Tantalum metal

Product information

LKAB Product Uses of Tantalum

Tantalum is one of the most inert, unreactive metals known. Its primary use is in high power electronic capacitors and resistors. It is one of the best metals for this purpose as it confers a high capacitance in a small volume. This feature offers size and weight advantages in sophisticated hand-held electronic devices such as mobile phones and portable computers.

The chemical inertness of tantalum allows its use in medical and dental applications since the metal does not interact with body tissues. The industry uses this metal in the following ways:

• Artificial hip and knee joints
• Pins
• Screws
• Staples
• Other devices that hold bones together

Our customers use Tantalum to produce superalloys that have:

• High melting points,
• Excellent strength,
• Good ductility.

Typical products that use Tantalum alloys are:

1. Laboratory equipment
2. Writing pen tips
3. Tools that operate at high speeds and temperatures.

Tantalum Standard grades

Tantalum is sold as bars or rods.Our Andalusite product range is available in 25kg paper sacks, 1000kg bulk bags or as bulk as standard.

Applications

Tantalum Metal is one of the most inert and unreactive metals known, making it ideal for high-performance applications in various industries. Some key applications include:

High-power electronics

• Widely used in electrolytic capacitors and resistors for their ability to provide high capacitance in a small volume.
• Essential in devices like mobile phones, portable computers, and other advanced handheld electronics, offering compact size and weight benefits.

Medical & dental applications

• Tantalum’s chemical inertness makes it ideal for use in medical devices, such as artificial hip and knee joints.
• Utilised in pins, screws, staples, and other surgical implants, ensuring biocompatibility and minimal interaction with body tissues.

Superalloys for high-temperature applications

• Tantalum is used in producing superalloys, known for their high melting points, excellent strength, and good ductility.
• Common in products like laboratory equipment, high-speed tools, and aerospace components that must withstand extreme temperatures.

Aerospace & defense

• Tantalum alloys are used in aerospace components due to their strength and resistance to high-stress conditions.
• Found in rocket nozzles, turbine blades, and other critical parts that require high performance under intense conditions.

Chemical & industrial processing equipment

• Due to its resistance to corrosion, tantalum is used in the production of equipment for chemical processing.
• Found in reactors, heat exchangers, and other industrial machinery exposed to aggressive chemicals and high temperatures.

Mineral information

high melting point, Tantalum is a part of the refractory metals group, a group of metals used as components of strong alloys with high melting points.

Tantalum Standard grades

LKAB Minerals’ Tantalum originates from reliable sources in the U.S. and China.

Tantalum Toxicology

The product is harmless to the environment, non-toxic in all its forms and a sustainable materials.