History

In 1802 the Swedish chemist A. G. Ekeberg isolated a new metal from two minerals found in Sweden and Finland. Later it turned out that it contained two different elements. It was not until 40 years later that the German chemist Rose proved that the mineral columbite consists of niobium and tantalum. Tantalum was named after the ancient Greek martyr hero Tantalus because of the difficulty of obtaining pure tantalum.

Physical and chemical properties

Tantalum is a steely gray metal with a bluish cast. At normal temperature it is stable, the oxidation begins at 200-300 ° C. It decomposes with hot solutions of caustic alkali, and forms tantalic acid salts in the molten alkali. When heated, this metal absorbs nitrogen, hydrogen, oxygen, which impurities can change its performance qualities. At 200-300 ° C, hydrogen is absorbed slowly, the maximum absorption rate is observed at t ° 500 ° C. The formed hydrides make the metal brittle. However, at t° ≥ 600 °C in a vacuum, the hydrides decompose and the tantalum regains its original properties. At 600 °C, tantalum absorbs nitrogen and further heating produces tantalum nitrite, with a melting point of 3087 °C.

Chemical composition in mg/g

Note - Determination of the mass fraction of other impurities is stipulated in the contract between the consumer and the manufacturer with a possible reduction of the mass fraction of Ta.

Application

• Heat-resistant and corrosion-resistant alloys;
• Corrosion-resistant apparatus in chemical industry, laboratory vessels, dies, crucibles for melting of rare-earth elements, yttrium, scandium;
• Heat-exchangers in nuclear power engineering (of all metals, tantalum is the most stable in cesium-133 vapors and melts);
• Tantalum foil and wire is used in surgery to bind tissues, nerves, sutures, and to make prostheses to replace damaged bones (tantalum is biologically indifferent);
• tungsten carbide and tantalum carbide (melting point 3880 °C) are used to produce hard alloys - grades with the index TT, for tool metalwork and the hardest conditions of percussive rock drilling and the strongest composites;
• munitions manufacturing - tantalum cladding for shaped charges improves armor penetration;
• tantalum and niobium are used to produce high-capacity electrolytic capacitors (tantalum improves quality characteristics of capacitors);
• tantalum has become a jewelry material; its oxides form strong films of any color on the surface;
• tantalum-182 is indispensable in nuclear physics research.
• The isomer tantalum-180m2, accumulates in the circuits of nuclear reactors and can, together with hafnium-178m2, be a source of energy and gamma rays in the development of weapons or vehicles.

Tantalum was first used in 1900-1903 in the manufacture of filaments for electric lamps, but the price was too expensive. It was later replaced by tungsten, which was less expensive. The use of Ta in the XXI century is closely connected with the development of radar, radio engineering and X-ray technology. The unique ability of this metal to absorb gases helps maintain a deep vacuum in electrovacuum technology. Its high emissivity, refractoriness and ability to gas adsorption determine its use for the production of parts of electric vacuum devices. Ta coatings are as attractive as those made of chromium and nickel. And not just externally. Tantalum is applied to large items pipes, crucibles, sheets, rocket nozzles, etc . It is interesting that the Brinell strength of the coating is 180-200 ^kg/mm2, whereas technical tantalum in the form of sheets or annealed rods has a strength of only 50-80 ^kg/mm2. A mixture of tantalum and tungsten carbides is the material of choice for impact and rotary drilling of the hardest rocks as well as metalworking of tool steels. In ammunition production, the metal is used to make the metal jacket of armor-piercing shaped charge shells.

Tantalum derivatives

Tantalum beryllide is so hard and resistant to oxidation that it has become one of the most sought-after materials for aerospace applications. The admixture of tantalum pentoxide to glass is used in nuclear engineering and experimental physics to cook glass to retain gamma rays. In electrical engineering, tantalum is used to make current rectifiers and high-capacitance capacitors. In these capacitors tantalum pellets produced by powder metallurgy are used, pressed and sintered at high temperature. The active surface of such a porous tablet increases by a factor of 100, which allows for very small capacitor dimensions at high capacitance. Tantalum capacitors are widely used in military radios and can operate in the most extreme conditions at temperatures from -80 to +200°C. In recent years, jewelers have also become interested in tantalum: tantalum forms strong oxide films of all colors on the surface.

Supply

• Wire Ø 0.5 - 5 mm
• circle Ø 5 - 50 mm
• Band thickness 0.1 - 1.5 mm and width 50 - 150 mm.
• Sheet thickness 1 - 4 mm, size 700x1400mm

Other forms of tantalum rolled titanium products are available upon request.

Buy at favorable price

Evek GmbH has a wide range of products of rare and refractory metals in stock at the best price. Delivery times are minimal. Concessional discounts on the prices of bulk orders.