What is Tantalum?

About Tantalum:

• It is a rare metal with the symbol Ta and atomic number 73.
• Occurrence: Raw tantalum rarely occurs in nature. Instead, it is typically found in the ore columbite-tantalite (usually referred to as coltan).
• Major Producers: Democratic Republic of the Congo, Rwanda, Brazil and Nigeria.
• Properties:
  • Classified as a transition metal, Tantalum is a solid at room temperature.
  • It is a shiny, silvery metal which is soft when it is pure.
  • It is almost immune to chemical attacks at temperatures below 150 degrees Celsius.
  • Tantalum is virtually resistant to corrosion due to an oxide film on its surface.
  • When pure, tantalum is ductile, meaning it can be stretched, pulled, or drawn into a thin wire or thread without breaking.
  • It belongs to a class of metals known as refractory metals, which are defined by their strong resistance to heat and wear.
  • It has an extremely high melting point, exceeded only by tungsten and rhenium.
• Applications:
  • It is most prominently used in the electronic sector.
  • The capacitors made from tantalum are capable of storing more electricity in smaller sizes without much leakage than any other type of capacitor.
  • This makes them ideal for use in portable electronic devices such as smartphones, laptops, and digital cameras.
  • As tantalum has a high melting point, it is frequently used as a substitute for platinum, which is more expensive.
  • It is also used to make components for chemical plants, nuclear power plants, aeroplanes, and missiles.
  • It does not react with bodily fluids and is used to make surgical equipment and implants, like artificial joints.
  • A composite consisting of Tantalum Carbide (TaC) and graphite is one of the hardest materials known and is used on the cutting edges of high-speed machine tools.