Tantalum is a shiny gray, very hard and yet ductile heavy metal from the
vanadium group, it is easy to deform and weld. Tantalum is one of the refractory
metals, is very resistant to almost all acids (except hydrofluoric acid) and has
a high absorption capacity for hydrogen and nitrogen. In nature, tantalum occurs
only in combination with niobium.
Tantalum is used in electrical engineering, chemistry, in high-temperature
furnace construction, in evaporation systems and even in nuclear technology.
Rust and acid-resistant steels are added to tantalum as an alloy component.
Tantalum carbide is used to manufacture hard metal.
Tantalum is considered a rare element on earth, the continental crust has a
content of 2 ppm, the earth's shell 8 ppm. In the solar system, tantalum is even
the stable element that is the least common.
Nevertheless, tantalum is used in many areas. More than half of the tantalum
extracted worldwide is used to build very small, high-capacity capacitors. These
are mainly used in the manufacture of cell phones and in automobile
construction. Tantalum can also be used for medical implants because it is
non-toxic.
With a melting point of almost 3,000 ° C and its exceptional resistance to
corrosion, tantalum is also used in numerous industrial areas.
Tantalum alloys ensure durability
Due to its stable properties, tantalum is used in some refinements. In the
chemical industry, alloys made of tantalum and tungsten can not only line
reaction vessels, but also heat exchangers and pumps. Even the so-called
superalloys that are used in the construction of aircraft turbines often contain
up to 9% tantalum.
Tantalum generally provides increased strength and resistance of the material
through its addition.
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