Tantalum (Ta)

Background Information

Tantalum (Ta) is a refractory metal. Tantalum is quite soft compared to tungsten or even molybdenum. The density and melting point of tantalum lie between those of tungsten and molybdenum.

Tantalum is often used in capacitors or other electronic devices and is also used to alloy other metals. Its high corrosion resistance is useful in chemical reaction pipes and vessels such as vacuum furnaces and nuclear reactors, allowing corrosion-resistant properties at high temperatures while minimizing product contamination. Its high thermal conductivity is useful in equipment such as heat exchangers and distillation equipment.

We offer the following grades, to ASTM B708:

• R05200, unalloyed tantalum, electron-beam furnace or vacuum-arc melt, or both,

• R05400, unalloyed tantalum, powder-metallurgy consolidation,

• R05255, tantalum alloy, 90 % tantalum, 10 % tungsten, electron-beam furnace of vacuum-arc melt, or both,

• R05252, tantalum alloy, 97.5 % tantalum, 2.5 % tungsten, electron-beam furnace or vacuum-arc melt, or both, and

• R05240, tantalum alloy, 60 % tantalum, 40 % niobium, electron-beam furnace or vacuum-arc melt.

Tantalum Advantages

• High density and melting point
  
• High corrosion resistance
  
• High thermal conductivity
  

Tantalum Applications

• Capacitors or electronic devices
  
• Chemical reaction pipes
  
• Nuclear reactors
  
• Heat exchangers
  
• Distillation equipment