| Tantalum -- The Obvious Choice | ||
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 Tantalum is a refractory metal with a melting
point of 5425°F (2996°C). It is a tough,
ductile metal which can be formed into
almost any shape. It is used in corrosion
resistant applications for environments
no other metal can withstand. The major
limitation of Tantalum is its reactivity with oxygen
and nitrogen in the air at temperatures above 300°C. |
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| Corrosion Resistance | ||
| Tantalum is the most corrosion resistant metal in common use today. The presence of a naturally occurring oxide film on the surface of Tantalum is the reason for its extreme corrosion resistant properties. 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 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 design shell and tube
heat exchangers and bayonet
heaters for chemical, petrochemical and
pharmaceutical applications.
Tantalum can be clad to carbon steel to form
a bimetallic material of construction. The
Tantalum is used as a corrosion barrier while
the substrate is used to contain pressure and
stress. The corrosion resistance of Tantalum
together with the low cost and high strength of
carbon steel can often be the most economical
choice for high pressure equipment.
Tantalum is the material to consider in 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. TITAN Metal Fabricators |