Titan Metal Fabrigator

APPLICATIONS OF TANTALUM

Tantalum is the most corrosion resistant metal in common use today. It is inert to practically all organic and inorganic compounds. Its corrosion resistance is very similar to glass, as both are unsuitable for use in hydrofluoric acid and strong hot alkali applications.  For this reason, Tantalum is often used with glass-lined steel reactors as patches, dip tubes, piping and overhead condensers.

Tantalum is inert to sulfuric and hydrochloric acid in all concentrations below 300˚F. Attack up to 400˚F is not significant and Tantalum is in common use up to 500˚F. Tantalum is not attacked by nitric acid in concentrations up to 98% and temperatures up to at least 212˚F. Tantalum has proven itself to be totally inert in many applications. Some heat exchanger installations have been in continuous use for over 40 years in multi-product research environments without so much as a gasket change.

Wide Range of Applications

The corrosion resistance, heat transfer properties and workability of Tantalum make it a perfect construction material for a wide range of equipment and applications. Tantalum is used in heat exchangers, condensers, columns, reactors, helical coils, pipe spools, valve linings and a variety of other components exposed to extremely corrosive fluids. It can be fabricated into most TEMA-type design shell and tube heat exchangers and bayonet heaters for chemical, petrochemical and pharmaceutical applications.

Tantalum is the material to consider for any application where corrosion is a factor and the long-term benefits of reduced downtime, increased life expectancy and profitability is important. For many applications, Tantalum is the only reasonable choice.

Tantalum Outperforms Other Materials

Today's global economy means increased competition. The control of cost including manufacturing efficiency, plant equipment costs and maintenance are paramount to survival. Chemical producers have recognized that increasing pressure and temperature increases efficiency in many applications. This also increases corrosion problems which Tantalum can handle.

Tantalum and Steel Pickling Applications

The largest cost of all is often maintenance and downtime. Industries from steel pickling to pharmaceutical have recognized that to stay competitive you first have to stay in production. It is no coincidence that the world's best, most progressive, and most profitable steel pickling and pharmaceutical companies standardize on Tantalum equipment to solve their corrosion problems.

The relatively high initial cost of Tantalum equipment is offset by its extremely low corrosion and long lifetime. Life cycle costs and manufacturing efficiencies need to be evaluated for a globally competitive manufacturing facility. Tantalum process equipment meets all these challenges.

Is Tantalum a good choice for your application?  Ask TITAN.

TITAN's world-class team -- together with leading mill metallurgists -- works to solve your most challenging corrosion, application, mechanical or thermal design issues. Call TITAN at (805) 487-5050 or send us your questions via email at info@titanmf.com.

Please see our Technical Resource Section for detailed corrosion resistance charts.