Commerce Resources Corp (CCE)

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TANTALUM is one of the most versatile corrosion-resistant metals known.

It combines the inertness of glass with the strength and ductility of low-carbon steel and with a much higher heat-transfer capability than glass. The relatively high cost of tantalum has been a limiting factor in its use, but where premium corrosion resistance is important, the cost can be justified.

Fabrication techniques, in which thin linings of tantalum are used in chemical processing equipment, result in equipment that has the acid corrosion resistance provided by tantalum but at a much lower cost than an all-tantalum construction. The long life and reliability of tantalum equipment in severe-corrosion applications can offset its higher initial cost. Table lists numerous applications for tantalum in the chemical processing industry and in other industries.

Most tantalum, (approximately 60%) is used in electronics, with tantalum capacitors being the largest application by far. The constant drive for smaller portable electronic devices with high reliability has increased the demand for tantalum capacitors.

The dielectric is tantalum oxide, and the capacitor packaging protects the tantalum from the environment, so this article does not dwell on this application. The most common compositions of tantalum are unalloyed cast (UNS R05200) and unalloyed sintered (UNS R05400); tungsten alloyed, Ta-2.5W (UNS R05252); and Ta-10W (UNS R05255). Ta-2.5W is selected for greater low-temperature mechanical strength than pure tantalum, and Ta-10W has superior high-temperature strength (service up to 2480 °C, or 4500 °F).

Tantalum is processed as a powder that can be sintered or remelted using an electron beam or vacuum arc. Ta-40Nb (UNS R05240) provides higher tensile and yield strength than pure tantalum, while retaining much of the chemical resistance at a lower cost.