Tantalum (Ta) - Mesh & Sphere - Material Information

Tantalum (Ta) is a dense, ductile, and corrosion-resistant refractory metal known for its exceptional chemical inertness and biocompatibility. Its unique combination of mechanical strength and oxidation resistance makes it indispensable across sectors such as electronics, aerospace, chemical processing, and medical implantology.

Material Overview

Pure tantalum exhibits a body-centered cubic (BCC) crystal structure with a high melting point of 3017 °C and a density of 16.6 g/cm³. The material naturally forms a stable and adherent oxide layer (Ta?O?), providing excellent resistance to most acids, including hydrochloric, nitric, and sulfuric acids, except hydrofluoric acid. Its thermal conductivity (~57 W·m⁻¹·K⁻¹) and high ductility allow it to be fabricated into fine meshes, wires, and thin foils without losing mechanical integrity. The oxide layer contributes to its semiconducting and dielectric properties, crucial for capacitors and other electronic components. Recent studies have shown that tantalum oxide grown in H?SO? electrolytes exhibits higher thermodynamic stability and superior adhesion compared to those produced in H?PO? (Namur et al., 2015).

Applications and Advantages

Tantalum’s inertness and biological compatibility make it highly valued in biomedical applications such as orthopedic, dental, and cardiovascular implants. Its surface oxide layer promotes osseointegration and resists corrosion in physiological environments (Mani et al., 2022). Porous tantalum structures, often called “Trabecular Metal,” exhibit an interconnected architecture that mimics cancellous bone, enhancing both osteoconductivity and load transfer (Rodríguez-Contreras et al., 2021). In metallurgy, tantalum is used as an alloying element in superalloys and Ti–Ta biomedical alloys, which show improved tensile strength (up to 1186 MPa) and lower elastic modulus (~89 GPa), enhancing fatigue performance and corrosion resistance (Zhao et al., 2019). Additionally, its high melting point and stability make it ideal for furnace components, high-temperature thermocouples, and aerospace hardware exposed to oxidizing atmospheres.

Goodfellow Availability

Goodfellow supplies high-purity tantalum in mesh, wire, and spherical forms suitable for research and advanced engineering applications. Each product meets stringent metallurgical standards, with options for customized dimensions and purity specifications upon request. Tantalum materials from Goodfellow are ideal for use in corrosion-resistant components, electronics, and biomedical prototypes.

Explore Tantalum (Ta) - Mesh & Sphere and other advanced materials in Goodfellow’s online catalogue: Goodfellow product finder.

References

• Mani, G., Porter, D., Grove, K., Collins, S., Ornberg, A., & Shulfer, R. (2022). A comprehensive review of biological and materials properties of Tantalum and its alloys. *Journal of Biomedical Materials Research Part A*, 110(4), 621–640. https://doi.org/10.1002/jbm.a.37373
• Rodríguez-Contreras, A., Mas-Moruno, C., Fernández-Fairén, M., Rupérez, E., Gil, F. J., & Manero, J. M. (2021). Other metallic alloys: Tantalum-based materials for biomedical applications. In *Metals for Biomedical Devices* (pp. 155–176). Elsevier. https://doi.org/10.1016/B978-0-12-818831-6.00007-0
• Zhao, D., Han, C., Li, Y., Li, J., Zhou, K., Wei, Q., Liu, J., & Shi, Y. (2019). Improvement on mechanical properties and corrosion resistance of titanium-tantalum alloys fabricated via selective laser melting. *Journal of Alloys and Compounds*, 803, 469–480. https://doi.org/10.1016/J.JALLCOM.2019.06.307
• Namur, R. S., Reyes, K. M., & Marino, C. E. B. (2015). Growth and electrochemical stability of compact tantalum oxides obtained in different electrolytes for biomedical applications. *Materials Research*, 18(5), 1041–1048. https://doi.org/10.1590/1516-1439.348714
• Zhou, Y. L., Niinomi, M., Akahori, T., Nakai, M., & Fukui, H. (2007). Comparison of various properties between titanium-tantalum alloy and pure titanium for biomedical applications. *Materials Transactions*, 48(3), 380–384. https://doi.org/10.2320/MATERTRANS.48.380