Spherical niobium alloy powder, products containing the same, and methods of making the same

Niobium alloy powder comprising

• a. a spherical shape wherein the powder has an average aspect ratio of from 1.0 to 1.25;
• b. a purity of niobium alloy of at least 99.99 wt % Nb-alloy based on total weight of said niobium alloy powder, excluding gas impurities;
• c. an average particle size of from about 0.5 micron to about 250 microns;
• d. an apparent density from about 2 g/cc to about 18 g/cc;
• e. a true density of from 8.2 g/cc to 20 g/cc;
• and
• f. a Hall flow rate of 20 sec or less, wherein
• said niobium alloy powder is a Nb alloy that contains Nb and two or more other metals to form said niobium alloy powder,
• the niobium metal is present at a highest percent based on the weight of the niobium alloy powder, and
• a wt % of the two or more other metals is from 0.1 wt % to 70 wt %, based on the total weight of the niobium alloy powder;
• and wherein the two or more other metals must be and only can be Ti, W, Mo, Re, Rh, Ta, V, Th, Zr, Hf, Cr, Mn, Sc, Y, Ni, Fe, Co, Al, Sn, Au, Th, U, Pu, and rare earth elements, and, optionally, a wt % of metals other than the two or more other metals and the Nb is less than 0.1 wt %.