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Where Do You Find Tantalum
Due to its high boiling point, good corrosion resistance, low coefficient of thermal expansion and high capacitance coefficient, tantalum is a key element. It is employed in the electronics industry for the manufacture of sputter targets and capacitors, and in the medical industry for orthopaedic implants.
Tantalum occurs in columbite ores. Given that the demand for columbium is increasing, larger quantities of tantalum concentrates become available. Tantalum can be produced in various forms, such as powders, bars, foils and sheets. A complex separation and reduction process yields both metals as powder.
The tantalum powder is pressed into bars using matrices. The bars are sintered in vacuum by passing high currents through them. The consolidation method is also used for tungsten powder. The bars are cast in vacuum arc furnaces with consumable electrodes or in electron beam furnaces. Due to tantalum’s reaction with air at high temperatures, the blocks are cold worked. The high ductility of tantalum at room temperature permits intensive cold working. Interim annealing is required in vacuum furnaces.
Tantalum resists oxidation by air up to approximately 500°F. It has been used as a container for molten sodium, potassium and other materials at up to 2 200°F in vacuum, without corrosion.
Tantalum is resistant to most corrosive media below 300°F. It is used in many applications exposed to corrosive environments in the chemical industry.
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