The beneficial effects of niobium addition on properties such as high-temperature strength,toughness,and formability of ferritic stainless steels have been addressed.Based on the Thermo-Calc analysis,precipitation of niobium carbonitride and solubility of niobium have been predicted and characterized via scanning electron microscope(SEM) and transmission electron microscope(TEM) observations.It is shown that addition of niobium has a beneficial effect on improving the high-temperature strength,toughness,formability,and corrosion resistance of ferritic stainless steel.Soluted niobium is very effective in improving the high-temperature strength,which is beneficial to reducing the sticking propensity during hot rolling.Although niobium increases the recrystallization temperature,niobium-added ferritic stainless steels show a high mean r value,or a high plastic strain ratio,as long as the annealing temperature is high enough.Furthermore,because niobium helps to inhibit the formation of chromium carbides,ferritic stainless steel can keep an effective chromium content in the matrix,leading to improved corrosion resistance.Applications of these ferritic stainless steels for construction and home appliances have also been presented. The beneficial effects of niobium addition on properties such as high-temperature strength, toughness, and formability of ferritic stainless steels have been addressed.Based on the Thermo-Calc analysis, precipitation of niobium carbonitride and solubility of niobium have been predicted and characterized via scanning electron microscope (SEM) and transmission electron microscope (TEM) observations. It is shown that addition of niobium has a beneficial effect on improving the high-temperature strength, toughness, formability, and corrosion resistance of ferritic stainless steel. in improving the high-temperature strength, which is beneficial to reducing the sticking propensity during hot rolling. Although niobium increases the recrystallization temperature, niobium-added ferritic stainless steels show a high mean r value, or a high plastic strain ratio, as long as the annealing temperature is high enough. Still more, because niobium helps to inhibit the formation of chr omium carbides, ferritic stainless steel can keep an effective chromium content in the matrix, leading to improved corrosion resistance. Applications of these ferritic stainless steels for construction and home appliances have also been presented.