Tantalum was discovered by Swedish chemist A.G. Ekeberg in 1802, it is mainly present in tantalite and co-exists with niobium. Tantalum has moderate hardness and is full of ductility and can be drawn into filament thin foil. Tantalum has excellent chemical properties and very high corrosion resistance; it also has high melting point. Due to its excellent corrosion resistance, tantalum is widely used in electronics, metallurgy, steel, chemical, carbide, atomic energy, superconducting technology, automotive electronics, aerospace and medical industry.
Tantalum solid products can be produced by arc cast or PM. Here we introduce the applications and basic information for shaped tantalum products
Tantalum plate, strip, foil:
Tantalum plate has very strong corrosion resistance, which is second only to gold and platinum. Therefore, tantalum plate is widely used in chemical reaction equipment such as the coating of reactor, valves, heat exchangers, protection systems and water tanks. Tantalum plate can also be used for the production of corrosion-resistant tantalum fasteners such as screws, nuts, bolts and threaded rods. Strip & foil can be used in high temperature furnace, and corrosion protesting shielding.
Tantalum wire and tantalum rod:
Due to the biocompatibility of tantalum, tantalum wire is widely used in the medical field. It can be used as the main material for repairing joints and bones. It can also be used as suture clip and vascular stent in medical devices. Tantalum rod is the raw material from which tantalum wire is made. It can also be used to produce tantalum crucible, which is mainly used in high temperature furnace, which is used in crystal, rare earth and metallurgical industry.
Tantalum tube and tantalum marker bands:
Welded tantalum tube provides excellent corrosion resistance and heat transfer for chemical processing applications. Since no allowance for metal removal by corrosion is generally necessary, wall thicknesses are specified to be as thin as structural conditions will permit.
Dimensions for seamless tube can be made into capillary, it is used for medical and thermocouple protection. When cut into short sections, they are called marker bands which are used as markers in medical devices.
Tantalum alloys:
Gap atoms in tantalum and steel such as C and N have extremely high affinity. And the compounds formed with them are highly stable even in high temperature. Researches have shown that the addition of tantalum can greatly increase the strength of the alloy. However, currently it is only limited to research stage with few applications.
https://www.etimaterials.org/tantalum/
https://www.etimaterials.org/tantalum/tantalum-wire/
https://www.etimaterials.org/marker-bands/tantalum-marker-bands/