Is Tantalum Worth More Than Gold?

Is Tantalum Worth More Than Gold?

Why is tantalum so valuable?

The most valuable of metal worth materials is not gold or platinum like you might expect, but a metal you’ve possibly never heard of: tantalum.

There’s a good reason for this.

tantalum

The rarest stable element- Tantalum

As you know, Tantalum is the rarest stable element in our entire solar system, with just one atom of tantalum for every 181 billion atoms of other elements.

Tantalum is a lithophile element with chalcophile affinities. Tantalum is almost exclusively found in complex oxide and hydroxide minerals, with the exception of the borate mineral behierite and the only known non-oxide, tantalum carbide TaC.

Common Ta minerals include tantalite (Fe,Mn)(Ta,Nb)2O6, formanite YTaO4, and mikrolithe. Tantalum is nearly always found in association with Nb. The most common host minerals for Ta in igneous rock types include pyroxene, amphibole, biotite, ilmenite, and sphene.

Excellent characteristics- Tantalum

Tantalum has a series of excellent characteristics such as a high melting point, low vapor pressure, good cold processing performance, high chemical stability, strong resistance to liquid metal and acid and alkali corrosion, and large dielectric constant of the surface oxide film, which makes it an important modern functional material.

Extremely good corrosion resistance – Tantalum

Tantalum rapidly generates a surface oxide film that closely covers its metallic substrate in almost any environment, which is extremely thin and dense, impervious to almost all media, and self-healing once damaged. Thanks to this excellent protective film, tantalum has extremely good corrosion resistance. Except for fluorine, hydrofluoric acid, acidic solutions containing fluorine ions, fuming nitric acid, and strong alkalis, tantalum is impervious to corrosion in most media.

Wide Applications – Tantalum

With its combination of specific physical and chemical properties, tantalum is an important product in many applications:

tantalum applications
Tantalum features a high degree of biocompatibility. For this reason, it is used in medical technology as a radiographic contrast agent and in the production of bone replacement material and implants.
• In the aerospace and energy industries, tantalum increases the corrosion resistance of alloys in turbine blades.
• Tantalum’s chemical corrosion and high-temperature resistance properties provide many benefits to the chemical process industry. For this reason, tantalum is used in the production of reactor coatings, heat exchangers, and pipelines
• Its ability to form an extremely thin oxide coating which provides a protection layer, makes tantalum the material of choice in the production of small, high-quality capacitors

In conclusion

We use our “unyielding” material – Tantalum, for example, tantalum foil, and tantalum powder, are used to produce heat exchangers for the equipment construction sector, charge carriers for furnace construction, implants for medical technology, and capacitor components for the electronics industry.

What are Common Uses of Tantalum?

What are Common Uses of Tantalum?

Tantalum has excellent chemical properties and is extremely resistant to corrosion. It does not react to hydrochloric acid, concentrated nitric acid, or “aqua regia” under either cold or hot conditions. When tantalum is immersed in sulfuric acid at 200°C for one year, the surface layer is only damaged by 0.006 mm.

tantalum

Tungsten plate, molybdenum plate, tungsten rod, molybdenum rod, tungsten tube, molybdenum tube, tungsten crucible, molybdenum crucible experiments have proved that tantalum rod does not react to an alkaline solution, chlorine gas, bromine water, dilute sulfuric acid and many other agents under normal conditions, but only reacts to hydrofluoric acid and hot concentrated sulfuric acid. This is a relatively rare occurrence among metals.

The properties of tantalum make it suitable for a wide range of applications. In equipment for the production of various inorganic acids, tantalum can be used as a replacement for stainless steel, and its life can be increased by dozens of times compared to stainless steel. In addition, in the chemical, electronic and electrical industries, tantalum can replace the tasks that used to be undertaken by the precious metal platinum, making the costs required much lower.

In addition, tantalum is also an important element in the refining of super-strength steel, corrosion-resistant steel, and heat-resistant steel alloys, and can provide special materials necessary for the development of rockets, spacecraft, jet aircraft, and other space technologies.

Non-magnetic alloys made of tantalum and tungsten are widely used in the electrical industry, especially tantalum carbide composed of tantalum and carbon, which has great hardness, even under high conditions, and gold steel stone is not comparable.

Tungsten plate, molybdenum plate, tungsten rod, molybdenum rod, tungsten tube, molybdenum tube, tungsten crucible, molybdenum crucible made of it can cut many hard alloys at high speed; all kinds of drill bits made of it can replace the hardest alloy or gold steel stone. Therefore, tantalum is also considered to be the “vitamin” in smelting.

What are 8 Uses for Tantalum?

What are 8 Uses for Tantalum?

Niobium vs. Tantalum

Due to their similar properties as functional and structural materials, niobium and tantalum have common areas of application or in most cases can be substituted for each other. In practice, however, the main areas of application and usage vary considerably due to differences in resources and properties. Niobium is abundant and is produced and consumed in large quantities; tantalum is less abundant and is produced and consumed in small quantities.

ta powder

Chemical properties of tantalum

Tantalum has excellent chemical properties and is extremely resistant to corrosion, not reacting to hydrochloric acid, concentrated nitric acid, or “aqua regia”, both under cold and hot conditions. However, tantalum can be corroded in hot concentrated sulfuric acid. Below 150°C, tantalum will not be corroded by concentrated sulfuric acid, but will only react above this temperature.

In 175 degrees in concentrated sulfuric acid for 1 year, the thickness of the corrosion is 0.0004 mm, tantalum into 200 degrees in the sulfuric acid soaked for a year, the surface layer is only damaged 0.006 mm. At 250 degrees Celsius, the corrosion rate increases to 0.116 mm per year.

At 300 degrees, the rate of corrosion is accelerated, soaking 1 year, the surface was corroded 1.368 mm. In fuming sulfuric acid, the corrosion rate is more severe than in concentrated sulfuric acid, and the surface is corroded to a thickness of 15.6 mm after 1 year of immersion in the solution at 130 degrees.

Tantalum uses and applications

  1. Electronic industry:

The dense oxide film formed on the surface of tantalum metal has the one-way conductivity of valve metal, which is suitable for making capacitors with high reliability and long life and is widely used in military equipment and high-tech fields such as missiles, radar, TV, electronic computers, cell phones, etc. In 2000, 24 billion tantalum capacitors were produced worldwide.

  1. Steel industry:

85% ~ 90% of the world’s niobium is used in steel production in the form of Ferro niobium. It is the leading micro-alloying element for niobium steel. When 0.1% of the alloying element is added, the yield strength of steel (N/mm2) increases as follows: niobium 118, vanadium 71.5, molybdenum 40, manganese 17.5, titanium 0. In fact, only 0.03% ~ 0.05% of Nb increases the yield strength of steel by more than 30%. As an alloying element, niobium is mainly used in the production of stainless steel and high strength low alloy steel (HSLA), which is widely used in oil transportation, gas pipelines, the automotive industry, shipbuilding, railroad transportation, construction industry, heavy machinery, and port construction.

  1. Atomic energy industry:

Niobium has the advantages of high melting point, corrosion resistance, and relatively small thermal neutron capture cross-section, suitable for the manufacture of reactor uranium heating elements of the cladding tube and superheater.

  1. Petroleum and chemical industries:

Niobium and tantalum have high corrosion resistance, good strength and processing plasticity and are excellent structural materials for chemical equipment. Used in the production of inorganic acids (nitric acid, sulfuric acid, hydrochloric acid), petroleum refining, and other equipment.

  1. aerospace air industry:

Niobium-tantalum thermal strength alloy has good thermal strength, heat resistance and processing properties, widely used in the manufacture of aerospace air engine parts and gas turbine blades. In the United States, almost all the thermal parts of jet fighter engines are made of niobium alloys.

  1. Cemented carbide:

Tantalum carbide is an important additive to cemented carbide, and its hardness is second only to diamond. Tantalum carbide is widely used in machining, the automotive industry, petroleum, and geological drilling tools, etc.

  1. Superconducting materials:

Some niobium alloys and compounds have high superconducting transition temperatures and are used in the manufacture of various industrial superconductors, such as superconducting generators, gas pedal high-power magnets, superconducting magnetic energy storage devices, nuclear magnetic resonance imaging equipment, etc.

  1. Medical field:

Tantalum and niobium have good biocompatibility and physiological corrosion resistance. Medical tantalum and niobium are used in the manufacture of bone plates, cranial plate screws, implant roots, surgical instruments, etc.

Does Tantalum Have a High Resistance to Corrosion?

Does Tantalum Have a High Resistance to Corrosion?

Corrosion Resistance of Tantalum

Tantalum has very good corrosion resistance in most inorganic acids, is very similar to glass, and has important uses in the chemical industry. It is resistant to almost all chemical media (including hydrochloric acid at boiling point, nitric acid, and sulfuric acid below 175°C) except hydrofluoric acid, fluorine, fuming sulfuric acid, and alkalis.

tantalum corrosion resistance

Tantalum has excellent corrosion resistance to dilute sulfuric acid below 75% and can be used at any temperature; it can be used at 160~170℃ for concentrated sulfuric acid without inflating; it can be used at 250~260℃ for concentrated sulfuric acid with inflating, and the corrosion increases beyond this temperature. Generally in more than 170 ℃ high-temperature use before the first test research. Tantalum also has good corrosion resistance to phosphoric acid, but if the acid contains a trace of fluorine (>4ppm), the corrosion rate increases.

Tantalum is usually not resistant to corrosion in alkali, it becomes brittle and corrodes more quickly at high temperatures and concentrations.

Tantalum can react with high-temperature gas, O2, N2, H2, etc. can penetrate into the internal to make it brittle, such as contact with the initial ecological H, which will also absorb hydrogen and become brittle. Therefore, tantalum equipment should not be in contact with more reactive metals (such as Fe, Al, Zn), because it is easy to constitute a tantalum-iron (Al, Zn) primary battery, and the hydrogen generated by the primary battery reaction will destroy the tantalum cathode and make the equipment fail.

If a small piece of platinum is connected to tantalum with a very small over-voltage of hydrogen, then all the hydrogen will be released on the platinum and the destruction of tantalum by hydrogen can be avoided.

Tantalum has excellent corrosion resistance but is expensive, so its applications are mainly in the form of composite plates and linings, and in order to reduce costs, the thickness of the tantalum layer wants to be as thin as possible, so composite plates or lining welding is very difficult, because the melting point of tantalum and steel is very different, (the melting point of tantalum is 2996 ℃, the melting point of steel is 1400 ℃) and Fe and Ta at high temperatures will form Fe2Ta brittle Intermetallic compounds if the measures are not appropriate, it is easy to lead to cracking of the weld.

The performance of tantalum capacitors

Tantalum electrolytic capacitors have excellent performance and are small in size among all capacitors but can achieve large electric capacity, so they are easy to be made into small chip components suitable for surface mounting.

The tantalum capacitors currently produced are sintered solid, foil-wound solid, and sintered liquid, of which sintered solid accounts for more than 95% of the total production at present, and the non-metal sealed resin package is the main body.

Tantalum electrolytic produces the working environment medium for capacitors is an extremely thin layer of tantalum pentoxide film that is generated on the surface of tantalum metal material. This layer of the oxide film medium is combined with one of the terminals that make up the capacitor as a whole and cannot exist alone, so the electric capacity per unit volume is particularly large, i.e., the specific capacity is very high, so it is particularly suitable for miniaturization.

During the operation of the tantalum electrolytic capacitor, it has the performance of automatic repair or isolation of oxide film defects, so that the oxide film dielectric is strengthened at any time and its proper insulation capacity is restored without continuous accumulation of damage. This performance with unique self-healing technology ensures the advantage of long life and reliability.

Preparation of Tantalum Metal Powder

Preparation of Tantalum Metal Powder

Preparation methods of tantalum

Smelting method: Tantalum and niobium ore is often accompanied by a variety of metals, and the main steps of tantalum smelting are decomposition of the concentrate, purification, and separation of tantalum and niobium to produce pure compounds of tantalum and niobium, and finally the metal.

Preparation of Tantalum

Ore decomposition can be used hydrofluoric acid decomposition method, sodium hydroxide melting method and chlorination method, etc. Separation of tantalum and niobium can use a solvent extraction method, step-by-step crystallization method, and ion exchange method.

Separation: Firstly, the tantalum-niobium iron ore concentrate is decomposed with hydrofluoric acid and sulfuric acid tantalum and niobium are dissolved in the leaching solution as fluorotantalic acid and fluoronobotic acid, while the associated elements such as iron, manganese, titanium, tungsten, and silicon are also dissolved in the leaching solution, forming a strongly acidic solution with a very complex composition.

The tantalum-niobium leach solution is extracted with methyl isobutyl ketone and extracted into the organic phase at the same time, and the organic phase is washed with a sulfuric acid solution to obtain the pure organic phase containing tantalum-niobium and the extracted residue combined, which contains trace tantalum-niobium and impurity elements, and is a strongly acidic solution, which can be recovered comprehensively.

The pure organic phase containing tantalum-niobium is back-extracted with a dilute sulfuric acid solution to obtain the organic phase containing tantalum. Niobium and a small amount of tantalum enter the aqueous phase and then the tantalum is extracted with methyl isobutyl ketone to obtain a pure niobium-containing solution.

The pure organic phase containing tantalum is then back-extracted with water to obtain a pure tantalum-containing solution. The organic phase after the reverse tantalum extraction is returned to the extraction cycle.

Pure tantalum fluoride solution or pure niobium fluoride solution reacts with potassium fluoride or potassium chloride to form potassium tantalum fluoride (K₂TaF₇) and potassium niobium fluoride (K₂NbF₇) crystals, respectively, and can also react with ammonium hydroxide to form tantalum hydroxide or niobium hydroxide precipitates. Tantalum or niobium hydroxide is calcined at 900~1000°C to produce tantalum or niobium oxide.

Preparation of tantalum.

①Tantalum metal powder can be produced by the thermal reduction of metal (sodium thermal reduction) method. The reduction of potassium fluorotantalate with sodium metal in an inert atmosphere: K2TaF7+5Na─→Ta+5NaF+2KF. The reaction is carried out in a stainless steel tank, and the reduction reaction is rapidly completed when the temperature is heated to 900℃. The tantalum powder made by this method is irregular in particle shape and fine in size, which is suitable for making tantalum capacitors.

Tantalum metal powder can also be made by electrolysis of molten salt: using the molten salt of potassium fluorotantalate, potassium fluoride, and potassium chloride mixture as the electrolyte to dissolve tantalum pentoxide (Ta2O5) in it, and electrolysis at 750℃, tantalum powder with a purity of 99.8~99.9% can be obtained.

②Tantalum metal can also be obtained by reducing Ta2O5 with carbon heat. Reduction is generally carried out in two steps: first, a certain ratio of Ta2O5 and carbon mixture in a hydrogen atmosphere at 1800 ~ 2000 ℃ to make tantalum carbide (TaC), and then TaC and Ta2O5 in a certain ratio of the mixture of vacuum reduction into tantalum metal.

Tantalum metal can also be produced by thermal decomposition or hydrogen reduction of tantalum chloride. Dense tantalum metal can be prepared by vacuum arc, electron beam, plasma beam melting, or powder metallurgy. High-purity tantalum single crystals are produced by crucible-free electron-beam regional melting.

Is Niobium Similar to Tantalum?

Is Niobium Similar to Tantalum?

The answer is YES.

uses of tantalum niobium

Tantalum and niobium are inseparable in nature, why can’t they be used as a beautiful symbol of love?

Niobium and tantalum are in the same group in the periodic table and have very similar physical and chemical properties. They are often “inseparable” in nature, like a pair of “twin brothers”.

When niobium and tantalum were discovered in the early 19th century, they were thought to be one element, and it was only after about 42 years that they were separated for the first time by chemical analysis, and it became clear that they were two different metallic elements.

Tantalum (Ta) niobium (Nb) are high melting point (tantalum 2996 ° C, niobium 2468 ° C), high boiling point (tantalum 5427 ° C, niobium 5127 ° C) rare metals, the appearance of steel, gray-white luster, the Tantalum powder is dark gray, with gas absorption, corrosion resistance, superconductivity, unipolar conductivity and high strength at high temperatures, and other characteristics.

Therefore, the current tantalum niobium new material applications related to high-tech industrial fields include electronics, precision ceramics, and precision glass industry; electro-acoustic optical devices; cemented carbide, astronautics, and electronic energy industry; biomedical engineering; superconductivity industry; special steel and other industries.

Niobium-tantalum has good resistance to physiological corrosion and biocompatibility and does not interact with body tissues, so it is often used in the manufacture of bone plates, skull plate bone screws, dental implant roots, surgical appliances, etc. Tantalum is also known as a “biophilic metal” because it replaces bone in the human body with tantalum strips on which muscles can grow.

This is why they are also known as “pro-biological metals”. Therefore, there are no allergies when using them for rings, and the price is better. Because tantalum is almost twice as dense as niobium, a tantalum ring of the same size will be more textured, darker in color, and more expensive than a niobium ring.

Because they have always coexisted in nature, we can also define them as a good brother or a loving couple who are inseparable, if you want to buy a pair of rings you can consider buying one each of tantalum and niobium for better meaning.

What are the Uses of Tantalum?

What are the Uses of Tantalum?

The role and uses of tantalum

It can be drawn into thin tantalum foil in the form of a fine tantalum wire. Its coefficient of thermal expansion is very small.

uses of tantalum

Tantalum has excellent chemical properties and is extremely resistant to corrosion. It can be used to make evaporating vessels, etc. It can also be used to make electrodes for electronic tubes, rectifiers, and electrolytic capacitors.

It is used medically to make thin tantalum sheets or threads to mend damaged tissue. Although tantalum is highly resistant to corrosion, its resistance to corrosion is due to the generation of a stable protective film of tantalum pentoxide on its surface.

 

Chemical properties of tantalum

Tantalum has excellent chemical properties and is extremely resistant to corrosion, not reacting to hydrochloric acid, concentrated nitric acid, or “aqua regia” under both cold and hot conditions.

However, tantalum can be corroded in hot concentrated sulfuric acid. Below 150°C, tantalum will not be corroded by concentrated sulfuric acid, but will only react above this temperature.

In 175 degrees in the concentrated sulfuric acid for 1 year, the thickness of the corrosion is 0.0004 mm, tantalum into 200 degrees in the sulfuric acid soaked for a year, the surface layer is only damaged by 0.006 mm. At 250 degrees Celsius, the corrosion rate increases to 0.116 mm per year.

At 300 degrees, the rate of corrosion is accelerated, soaking 1 year, the surface was corroded 1.368 mm. In fuming sulfuric acid corrosion rate is more serious than in concentrated sulfuric acid, soaked in the solution at 130 degrees for 1 year, the surface was corroded by the thickness of 15.6 mm.

What are the Main Uses of Tantalum?

What are the Main Uses of Tantalum?

What are the basic uses of tantalum?

1 Tantalum is used to make tantalum capacitors: tantalum carbide powder and tantalum wire are the key materials for making tantalum capacitors, and they are excellent capacitors. Niobium can also be used to make capacitors.

ta powder

2 Tantalum is used to make high-temperature resistant tantalum products: tantalum can withstand high temperatures, has good strength, and rigidity, and is a high-quality material for making heating parts, heat insulation parts, and charging vessels for vacuum high-temperature furnaces.

3 Tantalum niobium is used to make corrosion-resistant tantalum niobium products: Tantalum niobium is a high-quality material resistant to acid and alkali and liquid metal corrosion and can be used in the chemical industry to make boilers, heaters, coolers, various vessel devices, etc.

4 tantalum niobium in the aerospace industry: used in the production of aerospace aircraft, rockets, submarines, and other engine components, such as combustion chambers, combustion ducts, turbine pumps, etc. Such as WC-103 Nb-Hf-Ti high-temperature niobium-based alloy is a high-quality material for astronautics, used as rocket gas pedal nozzle, spacecraft propulsion powering device and nozzle valve, etc.

5 Tantalum used to make the lining of armor-piercing ammunition: the application is currently mainly in the United States, is a missile, such as TOW2B missile.

6 Tantalum carbide as additives to cemented carbide: cemented carbide is mainly used as tools, tools, molds, and wear-resistant corrosion-resistant structural components, adding TaC can improve its hardness, strength, melting point, etc. NbC can also be used, the performance is second to TaC.

7 Niobium is the main additive for steel. The addition of niobium micro-alloyed steel, and steel grain refinement, can improve the strength and toughness of steel, about 75% of niobium applications in the field.

8 Niobium used as superconducting materials: Nb-Ti alloy is today’s widely used *, the amount of * large superconducting materials, such as Nb47Ti, there are important applications in high-energy physics, is the large hadron collider, heavy ion collider, and other high-energy particle gas pedal * selected practical superconducting materials; Nb3Sn is second only to Nb-Ti practical superconducting materials.

9 Tantalum oxide, and niobium oxide is the raw material for making tantalum-niobium artificial crystal: Ta2O5, Nb2O5 is the raw material for making LT, LN and other crystals, LT, LN is an important piezoelectric, thermoelectric and nonlinear optical materials, in the laser and micro-acoustic surface wave and other technical fields have important uses.

10 Niobium in the atomic energy industry: Nb has a small neutron capture cross-section, high thermal conductivity, and strength, and is used in atomic energy reactors as a nuclear fuel cladding material, nuclear fuel alloy additive, and heat exchanger structural material.

11 other applications: cathode sputtering tantalum coating, high vacuum suction pump tantalum active material, Nb2O5 and Ta2O5 for optical glass modifiers and chemical catalysts, Ta, Nb in medical devices and arts and crafts applications, etc.

Why is Tantalum So Valuable?

Why is Tantalum So Valuable?

Properties of tantalum

Tantalum has a series of excellent characteristics such as a high melting point, low vapor pressure, good cold processing performance, high chemical stability, strong resistance to liquid metal and acid and alkali corrosion, and large dielectric constant of the surface oxide film, which makes it an important modern functional material.

tantalum wire

Tantalum rapidly generates a surface oxide film that closely covers its metallic substrate in almost any environment, which is extremely thin and dense, impervious to almost all media, and self-healing once damaged. Thanks to this excellent protective film, tantalum has extremely good corrosion resistance. Except for fluorine, hydrofluoric acid, acidic solutions containing fluorine ions, fuming nitric acid, and strong alkalis, tantalum is impervious to corrosion in most media.

The main uses of tantalum

In the electronics industry, tantalum is mainly used as tantalum capacitors, which are usually applied in the form of capacitor-grade tantalum powder, tantalum wire, and tantalum foil. Tantalum capacitors are indispensable electronic components for radar, spacecraft, and missiles, and are widely used in civil applications such as mobile communication, electronic equipment, and instruments.

Tantalum powder can be made into small and large capacity capacitors because of its large specific surface area and large dielectric constant of the dielectric film, and therefore large capacity.

Electrolytic capacitors made of tantalum have the advantages of small size, lightweight, good reliability, large operating temperature range, shock resistance, and long service life. Tantalum electrolytic capacitors can be divided into solid electrolyte capacitors and liquid electrolyte capacitors according to their electrolytic degree.

Tantalum electrolytic capacitor

Capacitors can be distinguished by the form of their anodes, there are mainly two kinds of tantalum foil anodes and tantalum powder sintered anodes. Tantalum wire is used as the anode lead for these two types of capacitors. The development of the electronics industry is demanding more and more miniaturization and high reliability of tantalum capacitors. In the miniaturization of tantalum capacitors and chip types, efforts are made to increase the specific capacity of tantalum powder.

Tantalum is also used as a material for electronic tubes. Due to its high melting point, low vapor pressure, good processing properties, low coefficient of thermal expansion, and excellent gas absorption, tantalum is a good material for emitter tubes and high-power electron tube parts. Due to its high chemical stability, tantalum target is an important material for the magneto-space sputtering coating of electronic chips.

Tantalum carbide is a refractory metal, which occupies an extremely important position in cemented carbide industrial applications. Like the ceramic carbides of WC, TiC, and metallic cobalt, TaC has excellent wear resistance, toughness, hardness, and stability.

There are two types of tantalum carbide use: one is to add tantalum carbide directly to WC-Co or WC-TiC-Co alloy in small amounts, which plays a role in controlling grain growth, etc.; the other is to form a solid solution with niobium carbide or other carbides, which can improve the high-temperature hardness, high-temperature strength and oxidation resistance of the alloy, greatly improving cutting speed and extending tool life.

Ceramic carbide has excellent cutting performance, generally composed of α, γ, β three phases. α phase is tungsten carbide; β phase is the metal phase binder, metal cobalt is the most commonly used binder for ceramic carbide; γ phase is the solid solution formed by TaC, NbC, and TiC, γ phase is dissolved in tungsten carbide, its role is as a crystal generation inhibitor.

The deep processing of tantalum and its application

Tantalum has very good plasticity and is extremely easy to be processed plastic. Various industrial profiles (tantalum tube, tantalum rod, tantalum wire, tantalum strip) can be produced by using conventional processing processes (extrusion, forging, rolling, and drawing). Tantalum and tantalum alloy molten ingots have a coarse grain organization and must first be extruded or hot-forged to open the billet and break the grains before they can be further processed into the material.

Pure tantalum can be forged at room temperature to open the billet, tantalum alloy open billet temperature is generally 1100- l200 ℃. During processing, the oxidation of the tantalum alloy surface generates loose oxides and can penetrate into the alloy matrix, forming a hard permeable layer that cracks during processing. Therefore, it is important to try to protect the metal surface from oxidation during the entire machining process.

Currently, tantalum blanks are protected by salt bath heating, coating, jacketing, inert gas protection, etc. The extrusion method can produce metal tubes, bars, and profiles of different sizes; tantalum ingots can be directly forged into rolled slabs. Glass coating can be used as a lubricant; rolling of tantalum alloy plates, usually using two-roll or four-roll mills, with deformation of 10% and 15%, and total deformation of 70% and 80% when rolling 2.5mm thin plates. When rolling a 2.5mm thin plate, kerosene or palm oil is used as a lubricant.

Is Tantalum a Good Ring Material?

Is Tantalum a Good Ring Material?

The choice of a man’s wedding ring is a very important task when it comes to marriage. Tantalum rings herald a combination of timelessness, lifestyle and individuality. Whether you are looking for a classic or unique wedding band, choosing the right metal is an integral part of the experience.

Men’s wedding bands on the market are made of gold, sterling silver, platinum, titanium and tungsten. However, another type of wedding band is on the rise: the tantalum ring.

If you are looking for a men’s engagement ring that is popular for its luster, durability and uniqueness, you may want to consider purchasing a wedding band made of tantalum.

Tantalum has recently emerged in the wedding ring industry, but tantalum is a hard, lustrous metal that has been used extensively in the industry since the 19th century. So, what is tantalum? Is it a reliable metal? Is this expensive? Is it better than titanium?

We’ll address all your questions in this complete guide to tantalum rings.

What is tantalum?

In its natural form, tantalum is a dense mineral that can be highly molded by heat or electricity, making it a great choice for industrial use. Tantalum has a deep, vivid color, darker than platinum. Because of its strength and utility, tantalum is a popular metal used in jewelry, including tantalum rings, bands and watches.

Tantalum has been around for centuries, but it has a vintage vibe that makes it unique in the jewelry market. For example, the name tantalum comes from the Greek mythological figure Tantalus. However, don’t let its ancient origins fool you. Tantalum is currently used in the field of energy, including capacitors and resistors.

The appeal of tantalum wedding rings is that they combine classic elegance with a modern, futuristic appeal. Tantalum rings are lightweight, masculine, strong, and unique. They are particularly resistant to corrosion because they are made of durable industrial materials.

Tantalum wedding rings are a unique variant that combines fluidity, aesthetics and industrial toughness.

Tantalum ring advantages

Tantalum’s durability: We keep trying again and again, and rings made of tantalum are durable.

Unlike tungsten, another popular men’s wedding ring, tantalum is shatterproof. A trustworthy and durable choice, tantalum is tough enough for those who work with their hands.

Appearance: Thanks to the metal’s natural luster, tantalum has a beautiful shine. Depending on your style, Tantalum rings are available in matte or polished finishes.

Tantalum is a pro-biological material, it is harmless and is often used in medical procedures and is safe for people with sensitive skin or those prone to allergic reactions.

Resizing: Can I resize my Tantalum ring? Yes. If your ring size changes, Tantalum will provide you with the option to easily resize your ring instead of replacing it. In contrast, both titanium and tungsten are difficult to resize.

Tantalum is easy to clean: Tantalum is very easy to maintain and does not require special cleaning by a professional jeweler. Simply wash with detergent-free soapy water to add a sparkling clean shine to rings and bands made of tantalum.

Are there any disadvantages to Tantalum wedding rings?

While tantalum wedding bands are a popular choice, there are still some drawbacks to consider.

For example, tantalum itself is a conflict metal. What does this mean? Well, according to the U.S. Geological Survey, about 10 percent of tantalum comes from a conflict mineral region in the Congo, where smuggling and exporting has created a serious crisis.

Tantalum contamination from dissolved particles to the earth’s fresh water and soil has also raised environmental concerns. But, as with other metals, including titanium and tungsten, the data is vague and contradictory.

Another drawback of tantalum rings is the lack of design versatility. Unlike the three metals (gold, silver and platinum), tantalum wedding bands are relatively new to men’s rings. This means that there are limited designs of tantalum wedding bands and wedding bands for men, and almost non-existent options for women.

Are these drawbacks enough to deter potential buyers from purchasing a tantalum wedding band? It depends on the buyer’s priorities, but there is no denying that the pros of tantalum rings may outweigh the cons.

Tantalum Rings

Tantalum is highly malleable, meaning it can withstand wear and tear without cracking or breaking. In fact, tantalum is practically shatterproof.

How much does a tantalum ring cost?

Tantalum rings are slightly more expensive than titanium or tungsten rings, and for good reason. Tantalum is a rare metal that makes up only 1-2 PPM (parts per million) of the earth’s crust.

Tantalum is a rare material and is therefore valued. In addition, tantalum rings are made with high-quality craftsmanship, which adds to the price and novelty of tantalum wedding bands.

Should I buy a tantalum ring?

At this point, this is a complete breakdown of tantalum rings and we hope we have answered all your questions in this guide. However, there is still the question, “Should I buy a tantalum ring?”

Ultimately, choosing a men’s wedding ring is a highly personal and subjective process. Only you can decide which ring is right for you.

Conclusion

Tantalum wedding bands are particularly attractive because tantalum is a rare metal. Tantalum rings are long-lasting, which means you don’t have to worry about delicate or fragile wedding bands. Tantalum wedding bands are timeless, durable, and unique.

Older Posts
Newer Posts