Capacitor Grade Tantalum Powder: Types and Uses

Capacitor Grade Tantalum Powder: Types and Uses

Introduction

Capacitor grade tantalum powder is essential for producing high-performance capacitors. These capacitors ensure stability, reliability, and efficiency in many electronic devices. This article examines the various types of capacitor grade tantalum powder and their applications across different industries.

Types of Capacitor Grade Tantalum Powder

Capacitor grade tantalum powder is generally categorized into three series based on the working voltage of the capacitors they are used to produce:

1. Low Voltage Series

This series is designed for capacitors with a working voltage not greater than 25V. The powder in this series is optimized to provide high capacitance and stability at lower voltages.

Low voltage tantalum powder is commonly used in portable electronic devices such as smartphones, tablets, and other consumer electronics that operate at lower voltages. These capacitors ensure reliable performance in compact, energy-efficient gadgets.

2. Medium Voltage Series

This series serves capacitors with a working voltage range of 32V to 40V. It balances capacitance and voltage handling capabilities, making it suitable for a broader range of applications compared to the low voltage series.

Medium voltage tantalum powder is used in telecommunications equipment, automotive electronics, and industrial control systems. These capacitors provide reliable performance in environments where moderate voltage levels are typical.

3. High Voltage Series

This series is designed for capacitors with a working voltage not less than 50V. The powder in this series is engineered to handle higher voltages while maintaining stability and performance.

High voltage tantalum powder is utilized in power supply units, aerospace and defense systems, and high-performance computing. These capacitors ensure durability and reliability in high-stress environments.

Advanced Refractory Metals (ARM) is a leading supplier and manufacturer of high-quality capacitor grade tantalum powder produced through sodium reduction processes. We offer three types of capacitor grade tantalum powder: 4-20V, 20-40V, and above 60V, all at competitive prices to meet your needs. Send us an inquiry for more quality tantalum products.

Further reading: Tantalum Powder Types & Properties

Uses of Capacitor Grade Tantalum Powder

1. Solid Electrolytic Capacitors

– Overview: Solid electrolytic capacitors are one of the most common types of capacitors that use tantalum powder. These capacitors feature a tantalum anode, a solid manganese dioxide electrolyte, and a tantalum cathode.

– Applications: Solid electrolytic capacitors are used in a wide range of applications, including consumer electronics (e.g., smartphones, laptops), automotive electronics, medical devices, and aerospace systems. They are valued for their high capacitance per volume, reliability, and stability over a wide temperature range.

2. Wet Electrolytic Capacitors

– Overview: Wet electrolytic capacitors use a liquid electrolyte instead of a solid one. Tantalum powder is used to create the porous anode in these capacitors.

– Applications: Wet electrolytic capacitors are typically used in high-voltage applications and in environments where high energy density and low leakage current are essential. Common applications include power supply units, industrial equipment, and military electronics.

3. Hybrid Capacitors

– Overview: Hybrid capacitors combine the features of both solid and wet electrolytic capacitors. They use a combination of tantalum powder and other materials to achieve specific performance characteristics.

– Applications: Hybrid capacitors are used in applications that require a balance of high capacitance, low leakage current, and high reliability. They are found in advanced electronic devices, renewable energy systems, and critical infrastructure applications.

4. Medical Devices

– Overview: The reliability and biocompatibility of tantalum make it an ideal material for capacitors used in medical devices.

– Applications: Tantalum capacitors are used in implantable medical devices, such as pacemakers and defibrillators, as well as in diagnostic equipment and portable medical devices. Their stability and longevity are crucial for ensuring the safety and efficacy of medical treatments and monitoring.

5. Telecommunications

– Overview: The telecommunications industry demands capacitors that offer high performance and reliability to ensure uninterrupted service.

– Applications: Tantalum capacitors are used in network infrastructure, including base stations, routers, and switches, as well as in consumer communication devices. Their ability to perform consistently in varying conditions makes them essential for maintaining robust and reliable communication networks.

Advantages of Using Tantalum Powder in Capacitors

  • High Capacitance Density
    • Tantalum capacitors offer higher capacitance per unit volume compared to other types of capacitors. This allows for the production of smaller, lighter capacitors, which is especially beneficial in portable and miniaturized electronic devices.
  • Excellent Temperature Stability
    • Tantalum capacitors can operate over a wide temperature range, typically from -55°C to 125°C. This ensures reliable performance in extreme environmental conditions, making them suitable for use in industrial, automotive, and aerospace applications.
  • Superior Reliability
    • These capacitors exhibit long service life and high reliability. They maintain stable capacitance characteristics under varying temperature and load conditions, which is crucial for energy storage and power supply applications.
  • Low Leakage Current
    • Tantalum capacitors have low leakage currents, contributing to efficient energy usage in electronic circuits. This makes them ideal for battery-operated devices and applications requiring low power consumption.

Conclusion

Capacitor grade tantalum powder is crucial in the production of high-performance capacitors with excellent electrical characteristics. The different types of tantalum powder, each suited to specific voltage ranges, meet the diverse needs of modern electronic devices. As technology advances, the demand for high-quality tantalum powder will grow, driving further innovation in capacitor design and manufacturing.

Capacitor Grade Tantalum Powder: Manufacturing and Refining

Capacitor Grade Tantalum Powder: Manufacturing and Refining

Introduction

Capacitor grade tantalum powder is a critical material in the electronics industry, particularly in the manufacturing of capacitors. Tantalum capacitors are highly valued for their stability, reliability, and high capacitance per volume, making them ideal for applications in telecommunications, automotive electronics, and medical devices.

Understanding the nuances of producing and refining this specialized powder is essential for ensuring the highest quality in end products.

 What Are Capacitor Grade Tantalum Powder?

Capacitor grade tantalum powder is a finely milled form of tantalum metal specifically designed for use in electronic capacitors. It is known for its high melting point, excellent conductivity, and unique ability to form a stable oxide layer, which serves as an insulator crucial for capacitor functionality. The quality of this powder significantly influences the performance and reliability of capacitors, underscoring the importance of its meticulous production and refinement processes.

Tantalum powder is also available in metallurgical grade, used in alloys and general metallurgical applications, and high purity grade, essential for sensitive uses like semiconductor manufacturing. Each type meets distinct industry standards and is tailored for specific performance needs across various applications.

Related reading: Tantalum Powder Types & Properties

 How to Produce Capacitor Grade Tantalum Powder?

The production of capacitor grade tantalum powder involves several intricate steps. Each of them ensures the highest purity and appropriate physical properties:

  1. Tantalum Extraction: Tantalum is primarily extracted from the mineral ore coltan, which is processed to obtain tantalum pentoxide. This oxide is then reduced using hydrogen or carbon to produce metallic tantalum.
  2. Powder Formation: The metallic tantalum is converted into powder through various methods. One common technique is the sodium reduction process. Namely, tantalum is dissolved in molten sodium under high temperatures, followed by cooling and washing to remove sodium residues. Another method is the electron beam melting of tantalum ingots, followed by hydride-dehydride (HDH) processing to create fine powder particles.
  3. Size Classification: The powder is then classified according to particle size. This is a crucial step as the particle size distribution greatly influences the capacitor’s performance. Smaller particles create a larger surface area, which is beneficial for achieving higher capacitances.
  4. Purification: The powder undergoes further purification to remove impurities such as oxygen, nitrogen, and carbon, which could affect the capacitor’s electrical properties. This is typically done through chemical and thermal processes.

 How to Get Quality Capacitor Grade Tantalum Powder?

Ensuring the quality of capacitor grade tantalum powder requires stringent control over the production and refining processes, as well as regular testing and certification:

  1. Strict Production Controls: Implementing tight controls in every step of the production process helps minimize contamination and ensures consistency in powder characteristics. This includes controlled environments for critical processes and rigorous handling procedures.
  2. Advanced Refining Techniques: Using state-of-the-art refining techniques such as plasma arc melting or electron beam melting helps achieve higher purity levels and better particle uniformity.
  3. Quality Testing: Regular testing of the tantalum powder is essential. This includes chemical analysis to determine purity levels, particle size analysis, and physical property testing. Standards set by organizations such as ASTM or ISO provide benchmarks for quality.

Advanced Refractory Metals (ARM) is a premier supplier of tantalum products; renowned for competitive pricing and favorable lead times. ARM specializes in meeting custom specifications and can tailor materials according to the provided specs and drawings. To ensure optimal performance of our tantalum powders, we meticulously control key aspects such as Particle Size, Purity, and Oxygen Content. For more details, please check our homepage.

Conclusion

In essence, the production of capacitor grade tantalum powder involves extracting tantalum from coltan ore, converting it into metallic forms, and refining it through methods like sodium reduction or electron beam melting. By adhering to rigorous standards, manufacturers can ensure that they produce high-quality tantalum powder, thereby enhancing the performance and reliability of the capacitors made from it. The role of this powder in the electronics industry cannot be overstated, as it directly impacts the functionality and efficiency of a wide array of electronic devices.

Advancements of Capacitor Grade Tantalum Powder

Advancements of Capacitor Grade Tantalum Powder

Introduction

The relentless march of technological advancement, particularly in electronics, owes much to the evolution of component materials. Among them, capacitor grade tantalum powder plays a pivotal role.

Tantalum Capacitors

As a fundamental component in the fabrication of capacitors, tantalum powder has significantly influenced the performance, reliability, and miniaturization of electronic devices. This exploration delves into the advancements in capacitor technology. Hope that you can learn about the indispensable role of capacitor grade tantalum powder.

The Essence of Tantalum Capacitors

Capacitors are integral to electronic circuits. They store and discharge electrical energy as needed. Tantalum capacitors possess superior electrical properties. The performance of the high-quality tantalum capacitors comes from which they are made. This powder offers high capacitance per volume, stability across a wide range of temperatures and frequencies, and a long operational life.

Related reading: Types, Properties & Applications of Tantalum Powder

Advancements in Tantalum Powder Production

The journey of capacitor grade tantalum powder begins from raw mineral to a component in electronic devices. These sophisticated processing techniques are designed to enhance its properties.

Capacitor Grade Tantalum Powder

Recent advancements in the production of tantalum powder have focused on refining particle size, shape, and purity, which directly impact the efficiency and reliability of the capacitors.

  • Particle Size Reduction: Smaller particle sizes increase the surface area to volume ratio. It also enables higher capacitance values in a smaller physical size. That’s crucial for the miniaturization of electronic devices.
  • Improved Purity: Advances in purification processes have reduced the levels of impurities in tantalum powder and enhanced the electrical performance and reliability of capacitors.
  • Controlled Morphology: Developing powders with specific particle shapes and structures has allowed for more predictable and uniform electrical characteristics. Such development enhances the consistency of capacitor performance as well.

The Impact on Capacitor Technology

The enhancements in capacitor grade tantalum powder have led to several key advancements in capacitor technology:

  • Miniaturization: The drive towards smaller, more compact electronic devices has been supported by capacitors that offer high performance in increasingly smaller sizes. This feature is facilitated by the improved properties of tantalum powder.
  • Increased Reliability: The purity and consistency of modern tantalum powders have led to capacitors with higher reliability and longer service lives. That’s critical for applications in medical devices, aerospace, and other fields where failure is not an option.
  • Enhanced Performance: With advancements in tantalum powder, capacitors can now operate over broader temperature ranges and at higher frequencies.

Challenges and Ethical Considerations

While the advancements in tantalum capacitor technology are impressive, they are not without challenges. The sourcing of tantalum, often from conflict-affected regions, raises significant ethical concerns. The electronics industry has responded with initiatives like the Conflict-Free Sourcing Initiative. These ideas ensure that tantalum and other minerals are sourced responsibly.

Future Directions

The future of capacitor technology, with tantalum at its heart, looks toward even further miniaturization, efficiency, and performance.

  • Innovations in material science and engineering are expected to yield tantalum powders with even more refined properties.
  • Additionally, the industry is exploring sustainable and ethical ways to source and process tantalum. They aim to mitigate the environmental impact and ensure the welfare of communities involved in its extraction.

Conclusion

The role of capacitor grade tantalum powder in the advancement of capacitor technology cannot be overstated. Through continuous improvements in material properties and processing techniques, tantalum capacitors have become indispensable in the modern electronics landscape. These components enable the miniaturization and performance enhancements that define contemporary devices.

As the industry moves forward, the focus on ethical sourcing and environmental sustainability will be as crucial as the technological advancements themselves, ensuring that the future of electronics is not only advanced but also responsible.

Advanced Refractory Metals (ARM) provides superior capacitor grade tantalum powder, meticulously crafted from high-quality tantalum ingots. ARM makes commitments to meet the precise needs of customers as well. Send us an inquiry if you are interested.

A Comprehensive Overview of Capacitor-Grade Tantalum Powder

Introduction

Capacitor-grade tantalum powder stands as a crucial material in the realm of electronics. That’s particularly true in the production of tantalum capacitors. Its specialized properties and stringent manufacturing processes render it indispensable in creating high-performance capacitors vital to various electronic devices.

This comprehensive overview underscores the critical role of capacitor-grade tantalum powder in electronics. It also emphasizes its properties, manufacturing processes, applications, and contributions to the evolution of electronic devices.

Capacitor-Grade Tantalum Powder

Understanding the Main Benefits: Purity and Characteristics

The significant advantages offered by capacitor-grade tantalum powder involve delving into its purity and distinctive characteristics. These properties play a pivotal role in ensuring the reliability and performance of tantalum capacitors in electronic applications.

–High Purity Standards:

Capacitor-grade tantalum powder is subjected to rigorous purification techniques. These techniques ensure purity levels that often exceed 99.9%. This high purity is instrumental in guaranteeing the reliability and stability of tantalum capacitors in electronic applications.

–Uniform Particle Size Distribution:

The powder boasts uniform particle size distribution. This is a critical characteristic ensuring consistent performance in capacitor manufacturing processes. This uniformity is essential in maintaining the capacitor’s reliability and functionality across batches.

–Specific Surface Area:

Its high specific surface area facilitates optimal adhesion to the capacitor’s substrate. This property aids in the formation of a stable and uniform dielectric layer, and it is crucial for the capacitor’s performance and longevity.

Role in Capacitor Manufacturing: Anodization and Dielectric Formation

In the intricate process of capacitor manufacturing, capacitor-grade tantalum powder assumes a pivotal role in shaping the functionality and reliability of tantalum capacitors. Through a meticulous anodization process, this powder becomes the cornerstone for the formation of the crucial dielectric layer within tantalum capacitors.

—Anodization Process:

Capacitor-grade tantalum powder serves as the primary material for the formation of the dielectric layer within tantalum capacitors. Through an anodization process, a tantalum oxide layer is meticulously created on the surface of the powder particles. This layer is a vital insulating layer necessary for the capacitor’s operation.

–Compactness and Stability:

The unique characteristics of capacitor-grade tantalum powder contribute significantly to the creation of highly compact and stable capacitors. These capacitors offer high capacitance per volume, low leakage currents, and exceptional reliability in electronic circuits.

Applications and Contributions to Electronics Industry

–Electronic Devices:

Capacitor-grade tantalum powder plays a pivotal role in the production of tantalum capacitors used in various electronic devices. These capacitors are integral components found in smartphones, computers, automotive electronics, medical equipment, and numerous other electronic applications.

Related reading: Tantalum Powder Types & Properties

–Miniaturization and Performance:

The properties of tantalum powder enable the manufacture of miniature capacitors with high capacitance values. This capability facilitates the miniaturization of electronic devices without compromising performance, contributing to the evolution of smaller, more efficient electronics.

Quality Standards and Specialized Suppliers

–Stringent Quality Control:

Manufacturers adhere to stringent quality control measures to ensure the consistent quality and reliability of capacitor-grade tantalum powder. These measures are crucial in meeting the strict requirements of the electronics industry.

–Specialized Suppliers:

SAM and other dedicated suppliers focus on providing capacitor-grade tantalum powder, catering specifically to the stringent demands of electronics manufacturers. These suppliers play a vital role in ensuring a consistent supply of high-quality tantalum powder for capacitor production.

Conclusion: Enabling Electronic Advancements

In summary, capacitor-grade tantalum powder stands as a linchpin in the electronics industry. It contributes significantly to the advancement and miniaturization of electronic devices. Its specialized properties, stringent manufacturing processes, and essential role in tantalum capacitor production underscore its critical importance in powering modern electronic technologies.

Advanced Refractory Metals (ARM) stands at the forefront as a premier supplier and manufacturer of top-tier Capacitor Grade Tantalum Powder crafted through sodium reduction processes. Our offerings encompass three distinct types of this high-quality powder, tailored to meet diverse requirements. All of them are available at competitive pricing to suit your specific needs. Send us an inquiry if you are interested.

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.

Tantalum Capacitors in the Military Industry

Tantalum Capacitors in the Military Industry

Why is tantalum so popular?

The most important use of tantalum is the manufacture of electronic components, especially capacitors. 50%-70% of the world’s tantalum is used to manufacture tantalum capacitors, mainly in the form of capacitor-grade tantalum powder and tantalum wire.
Because tantalum forms a dense, stable, amorphous oxide film with high dielectric strength on its surface, it forms a stable anodic oxide film in acidic electrolytes and is easy to process.

tantalum capacitors

At the same time, tantalum powder sintered blocks can obtain a large surface area in a small volume, so tantalum capacitors have a series of excellent properties such as high capacitance, low leakage current, and low equivalent series resistance, good high and low-temperature characteristics, and long service life.

Tantalum Capacitors in the Military Industry

A tantalum capacitor is called a tantalum electrolytic capacitor, which is also a kind of electrolytic capacitor, using tantalum metal as the dielectric, hence the name.

The tantalum capacitor was firstly developed by Bell Labs in 1956, and it is a passive component with a small volume and large capacity capacitor.

Tantalum capacitors’ downstream applications can be divided into two categories: military and civilian. The military field includes aviation, spaceflight, ships, weapons, and electronic countermeasures, while the civil field includes consumer electronics, industrial control, electric power equipment, new energy, communication equipment, rail transportation, medical electronics, and automotive electronics. As an essential basic electronic component in electronic circuits, capacitor products are widely used in the military and civilian fields.

Military capacitors are mainly ceramic capacitors and tantalum capacitors. The development of the military electronics industry is especially important in the context of the information-based military. It is widely used in communications, computers, automobiles, electrical appliances, aerospace, national defense, and other industrial and scientific sectors.

Overview of Tantalum’s Main Products & Applications

Overview of Tantalum’s Main Products & Applications

Tantalum has a series of excellent properties such as high melting point, low vapor pressure, good cold workability, high chemical stability, strong resistance to liquid metal corrosion, and large dielectric constant of the surface oxide film. Therefore, tantalum is mainly used in high-tech fields such as electronics, metallurgy, steel, chemicals, hard alloys, atomic energy, superconducting technology, automotive electronics, aerospace, medical health, and scientific research.

tantalum capacitors

50% -70% of tantalum in the world is used to make tantalum capacitors in the form of capacitor-grade tantalum powder and tantalum wire. The surface of tantalum can form a dense and stable amorphous oxide film with high dielectric strength, which is easy to accurately and conveniently control the capacitor’s anodizing process.

Tantalum powder sintered blocks can obtain a large surface area in a small volume, so tantalum capacitors have high capacitance, low leakage current, low equivalent series resistance, and good high and low-temperature characteristics, long service life, and excellent comprehensive performance. Tantalum capacitors are widely used in industrial and scientific and technological sectors such as communications (exchanges, mobile phones, pagers, fax machines, etc.), computers, automobiles, home, and office appliances, instrumentation, aerospace, defense, and military.

Tantalum is an extremely versatile functional material. The following are the main products and applications of tantalum.

Tantalum carbide

Application: Cutting tools

Properties: Tantalum carbide is easy to form at high temperatures to avoid texture

Tantalum lithium

Application areas: surface acoustic waves, mobile phone filters, hi-fi and TV

Properties: strengthen the electronic signal wave, output more clear audio and video

Tantalum oxide

Applications: Lenses for telescopes, cameras and mobile phones, X-ray films, inkjet printers

Properties: Adjust the refractive index of optical glass, reduce X-ray exposure, improve image quality, and improve the wear resistance of integrated capacitors in integrated circuits

Tantalum powder

Applications: Tantalum capacitors in electronic circuits, medical devices, automotive parts such as ABS, airbag activation, engine management modules, GPS, portable electronics such as laptops, mobile phones, other devices such as flat-screen TVs, battery chargers, power diodes, Oil well probe, mobile phone signal shielding mast

Properties: high reliability, low failure rate, strong electronic storage capacity, it can withstand low temperatures such as -55 ℃ and high temperatures + 220 ℃, as well as severe vibration forces

Tantalum plate

Applications: Chemical reaction equipment such as coatings, valves, internal heat exchangers, cathodic protection systems for steel structures, water tanks, corrosion-resistant fasteners such as screws, nuts, and bolts

Properties: excellent corrosion resistance

Tantalum wire and tantalum rod

Applications: Tantalum wire and tantalum rod are used to repair hip joints, skull plates, bones after receiving tumor damage, suture clips, stent blood vessels

Properties: strong biological compatibility

Tantalum-artificial-joint

Tantalum wire and tantalum rod

Application: High-temperature furnace parts

Properties: The melting point is as high as 2996 ℃ (but vacuum protection is required)

Tantalum Disc

Application: sputtering target

Properties: a thin layer of tantalum, tantalum nitride coating oxide or semiconductor prevents copper migration

Tantalum ingot

Application: Superalloys such as jet engine vortex discs (such as blades)

Properties: The alloy composition contains 3~11% tantalum provides corrosion-resistant hot gas and allows higher operating temperature

Tantalum ingot

Application: Computer hardware driver CD

Properties: An alloy containing 6% of tantalum has shape memory properties

Stanford Advanced Materials supplies high-quality tantalum products to meet our customers’ R&D and production needs. Please visit https://www.samaterials.com/ for more information.

Super Performances of Tantalum in the Electronics & Aerospace Industries

Super Performances of Tantalum in the Electronics & Aerospace Industries

Tantalum has a series of excellent properties, such as high melting point, low vapor pressure, good cold processing performance, high chemical stability, as well as strong resistance to liquid metal corrosion, etc., it has important applications in high and new technology fields such as electronics, metallurgy, superconducting technology, automobile electronics, aerospace, medical treatment, and scientific research. The following is a brief introduction to the superb performances of tantalum in the electronics and aerospace industries.

tantalum powder

Electronics industry

In the electronic industry, tantalum is mainly used as tantalum capacitors, which are usually used in the form of capacitor-grade tantalum powder, tantalum wire, and tantalum foil. A tantalum capacitor is one of the indispensable electronic components of radar, aerospace aircraft and missiles, and it is widely used for civil use, such as mobile communication, electronic equipment, and instruments.

As the specific surface area of tantalum powder is large, the dielectric constant of the thin film of the dielectric body is large, so the capacitance is large, then the small large-capacity capacitors can be made. The electrolytic capacitors made of tantalum have the advantages of small size, lightweight, good reliability, wide operating temperature range, and long service life.

Tantalum electrolytic capacitors can be classified into solid electrolytic capacitors and liquid electrolytic capacitors, and they are mainly divided into two anode types: foil anode and sintered anode. Tantalum wire is used as the anode lead for both capacitors.

With the development of the electronic industry, the miniaturization and high reliability of tantalum capacitors are becoming increasingly strict. At present, the international commercial specific capacity of tantalum powder has reached more than 150,000 mu.F•V/g, and the laboratory has reached 30,000 mu.F•V/g.

Tantalum is also used as a material for electron tubes. Due to its high melting point, low real gas pressure, good processing performance, small linear expansion coefficient, and good inspiratory property, tantalum is a good material for launching tube and high-power electron tube parts.

Besides the above, tantalum target is an important material for magnetron sputtering coating of electronic chips due to its high chemical stability. You may check out more information at the specialized target website.

Aerospace industry

In addition to a large number of tantalum capacitors used in the aerospace industry, tantalum is also mainly used in high-temperature alloy and tantalum matrix heat-resistant alloy in the aerospace industry, especially in engines. High-performance alloys such as superalloy, corrosion-resistant alloy, and wear-resistant alloy can be made by adding tantalum to nickel base, cobalt base, and iron-base alloys.

Compared with niobium superalloy, tantalum superalloy has superior performance, higher heat resistance, and greater stress load. These alloys are mainly used as heat-resistant and high-strength structural materials for supersonic aircraft, solid propellant rockets, and missiles, as well as parts for control and adjustment devices. For example, the combustion chamber of the American Ajina Spacecraft is made of ta-10w alloy, and the flame temperature is very high (up to 2760℃) when its cover is small.

The aerospace industry is the second largest user of niobium and tantalum. Niobium and tantalum alloys, especially their superalloys and heat-resistant alloys based on them, are indispensable supporting materials for hot components of aircraft jet engines, rockets, spacecraft, and other vehicles.

Stanford Advanced Materials supplies high-quality tantalum products to meet our customers’ R&D and production needs. Please visit https://www.samaterials.com/ for more information.

A Brief History of Tantalum

A Brief History of Tantalum

In 1801, Charles Hatchett, a British chemist, analyzed a collection of minerals preserved in British museums and discovered a new element, Columbium (later renamed Columbium), in honor of Colombia, where the ore was made. In 1802, Anders Gustav Ekberg, a Swedish chemist, crystallized tantalum from niobium in Scandinavia.

tantalum

Because tantalum and niobium have very similar properties and specific gravity, many scientists at the time mistakenly believed that the two elements were the same substance. In 1844, German chemist Rosser used chemical methods to prove that tantalum and niobium are two elements.

In 1903, pure tantalum was produced for the first time. Tantalum capacitors manufactured with tantalum, with high capacity, small size, and high reliability, are still irreplaceable components in the electronics industry.

With the continuous miniaturization and portability of global electronic products since 1990, tantalum capacitors have been widely used. Today, tantalum capacitors are shipped about 100 billion times a year.

There are three major Tantalum companies operating in the world today: the US Cabot group, the German HCST group, and China Swing Orient Tantalum Industry Co., Ltd. These three companies produce more than 80 percent of the world’s tantalum products.

Tantalum used in electronics accounts for 60% of total production. But tantalum is not just used as a capacitor. Nickel-tantalum alloy is widely used in advanced aero-engine blades.

Before 2007, the world’s major sources of tantalum were Australia and Brazil. In 2000, the world’s major producing countries produced approximately 1,100 tons of tantalum concentrate, of which Australia accounted for 45%, mainly at Greenbush and Wodgina mines, while Brazil accounted for 17%, Rwanda 12%, and Congo 9%. At the time, Congo was in the midst of a second civil war, and large numbers of rebels smuggled Congolese tantalum mines into Rwanda for export under the Rwandan name.

In 2003, the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC) signed a peace agreement with rebels in the east that ended a second civil war. But the rebels in eastern DRC have not really laid down their arms, and are no longer engaged in open, large-scale fighting with government forces. The rebels continue to splinter and regroup, with new rebels popping up every now and then. Congo and the surrounding great lakes countries are backward industrially, all guns and ammunition are imported, and any imports must be accompanied by foreign currency. Both the rebels and the great lakes countries are eyeing tantalum as a new source of revenue.

Tantalum has supported the fighting in eastern Congo. Subsequently, the world’s major tantalum deposits have undergone a stunning reversal. Cheap Labour in eastern Congo, using baskets and hammer shovels, has been digging holes in droves, defeating Australian tantalum miners armed with big mining machines. Australia’s tantalum mines, unable to compete with a shoveled army of poor Congolese, went bust and quit altogether.

In 2007, Rwanda and the Democratic Republic of Congo had the world’s largest and second-largest share of tantalum mines. On January 9, 2007, Apple’s Steve Jobs launched the first iPhone. In 2014, most of the world’s tantalum mines were exported by Rwanda and DRC, including 600 tons from Rwanda and 200 tons from DRC, accounting for more than 70% of the world’s tantalum output.

In 2010, the U.S. implemented the Dodd-Frank Wall Street reform and consumer protection act, which requires U.S. companies that purchase tantalum products and other materials to investigate their supply chains and determine that the materials are not sourced from conflict zones in the democratic republic of Congo. The United States describes minerals from the eastern DRC region that have been repeatedly contested by rebels and government forces as conflict minerals.

Rwanda, Tanzania, and Bolivia are investing in the construction of tantalum and niobium smelting plants due to the implementation of the Dodd-Frank Act in the US and the Conflict Minerals Regulation in the EU. It is expected that the supply of tantalum raw materials in the world, especially in Africa, will become more and tighter in the future.

Stanford Advanced Materials (SAM) is a trusted supplier of high-quality capacitor grade tantalum powder，capacitor grade tantalum wire, and a wide variety of tantalum products. Please visit https://www.samaterials.com/ for more information.

Tantalum VS Niobium

Tantalum VS Niobium

Tantalum and niobium belong to one family in the periodic table. Due to their similar physical and chemical properties, as well as growing together in the same ore body, they are known as the twin of metals.

ta vs nb

Tantalum and niobium were discovered in 1801 and 1802 by Charles Hatchett, a British chemist, and Ekberg, a Swedish chemist. Tantalum niobium ore is the main ore of tantalum and niobium, and a small amount of tantalum and niobium exist in tungsten and some rare earth ores.

Properties

Tantalum and niobium are both high-melting metals with melting points of 2996℃ and 2468℃ respectively. Tantalum and niobium have very stable chemical properties, not only insoluble in nitric acid, and hydrochloric acid, but also insoluble in aqua regia. Tantalum is malleable and can be pulled into strands thinner than human hair or rolled into foil thinner than paper. Tantalum and niobium are both excellent superconducting materials with characteristics of compression and wear resistance.

Applications

Tantalum and niobium are widely used in various fields because of their excellent properties mentioned above.

1. Capacitor

Tantalum can form a compact and stable amorphous oxide film with high dielectric strength, so it is easy to control the anodic oxidation process of the capacitor accurately and conveniently. Tantalum powder sintered blocks can obtain a large surface area in a small volume, so tantalum capacitors are the most excellent capacitors with small volume, large capacity, low leakage current, long service life, and excellent comprehensive performance. Under normal conditions, tantalum capacitors are smaller in size, higher in capacity, and more stable in function than ceramic capacitors, aluminum capacitors, and thin-film capacitors.

Tantalum capacitors have excellent characteristics that cannot be compared with many other capacitors. In the field of microelectronics science and surface mount technology, there is almost no other equivalent capacitor to compete with them. Therefore, 60~ 65% of tantalum is used in the manufacture of tantalum capacitors in the form of capacitor grade tantalum powder and tantalum wire.

Compared with tantalum, the main disadvantages of niobium capacitors are large leakage current (generally 5-10 times of tantalum), low breakdown voltage (< 10V), and low operating temperature (< 105℃), which are not suitable for capacitors with high-reliability requirements and high rated voltage. However, in the range of low voltage (< 10V) and large capacity (> 100muf), niobium capacitors may partially replace tantalum capacitors of the same level.

2. Metallurgical industry

In the metallurgical industry, niobium is mainly used to manufacture high-temperature resistant alloy steel and improve the strength of steel. In the smelting of carbon steel, the strength of the steel can be increased by more than one-third by adding only a few parts per million of niobium. Superalloys made of niobium, tantalum, tungsten, aluminum, nickel, cobalt, vanadium, and other metals are good structural materials for supersonic jet aircraft, rockets, and missiles.

3. Mechanical industry

In the mechanical industry, the cutting tool made of carbides such as niobium carbide and tantalum carbide can withstand a high temperature of nearly 3000℃, and its hardness can be comparable with that of the diamond, the hardest substance in the world.

4. Biomedical industry

Tantalum is an ideal bio-adaptive material in medicine. When it comes in direct contact with human bones, muscle tissues, and fluids, it can adapt to biological cells and has an excellent affinity with almost no human stimulation and side effects. Tantalum can not only be used to make bone plates, screws and clamping rods for fracture treatment, but also can be directly used to repair bones with tantalum plates and pieces and replace broken bones due to trauma with tantalum strips. Tantalum wire and foil can be used to suture nerves, muscles and blood vessels above 1.5 mm, while the extremely thin tantalum wire can replace tendons and even nerve fibers.

Stanford Advanced Materials supplies high-quality tantalum and niobium products to meet our customers’ R&D and production needs. Please visit http://www.samaterials.com for more information.

Older Posts