Editing Tantalum (section)

==Applications==

===Electronics===
[[File:Tantal-Perle-Wiki-07-02-25-P1040364b.jpg|thumb|upright|Tantalum electrolytic capacitor]]
The major use for tantalum, as the metal powder, is in the production of electronic components, mainly [[capacitor]]s and some high-power [[resistor]]s. [[tantalum capacitor|Tantalum electrolytic capacitors]] exploit the tendency of tantalum to form a protective [[oxide]] surface layer, using tantalum powder, pressed into a pellet shape, as one "plate" of the capacitor, the oxide as the [[dielectric]], and an electrolytic solution or conductive solid as the other "plate". Because the [[Relative static permittivity|dielectric layer]] can be very thin (thinner than the similar layer in, for instance, an aluminium electrolytic capacitor), a high [[capacitance]] can be achieved in a small volume. Because of the size and weight advantages, tantalum capacitors are attractive for [[portable telephone]]s, [[personal computer]]s, [[automotive electronics]] and [[cameras]].<ref name="USGSCR08">{{cite web|url = http://minerals.usgs.gov/minerals/pubs/commodity/niobium/mcs-2008-tanta.pdf|title = Commodity Report 2008: Tantalum|publisher = United States Geological Survey|access-date = 2008-10-24}}</ref>

===Alloys===
Tantalum is also used to produce a variety of [[alloy]]s that have high melting points, strength, and ductility. Alloyed with other metals, it is also used in making carbide tools for metalworking equipment and in the production of [[superalloy]]s for jet engine components, chemical process equipment, [[nuclear reactor]]s, missile parts, heat exchangers, tanks, and vessels.<ref>{{Cite news|url=https://www.admatinc.com/tantalum/sheetplate/|title=Tantalum Products: Tantalum Sheet & Plate {{!}} Admat Inc|work=Admat Inc.|access-date=2018-08-28|language=en-US|archive-date=2018-08-29|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180829000208/https://www.admatinc.com/tantalum/sheetplate/|url-status=dead}}</ref><ref name="USGSCR08" /><ref>{{cite journal|title = New applications for tantalum and tantalum alloys|journal = JOM: Journal of the Minerals, Metals and Materials Society|volume = 52|issue = 3|date = 2000|doi = 10.1007/s11837-000-0100-6|page=40|first = R. W. Jr.|last = Buckman|bibcode = 2000JOM....52c..40B |s2cid = 136550744}}</ref> Because of its ductility, tantalum can be drawn into fine wires or filaments, which are used for evaporating metals such as [[aluminium]]. 

Tantalum is inert against most acids except [[hydrofluoric acid]] and hot [[sulfuric acid]], and hot [[alkaline]] solutions also cause tantalum to corrode. This property makes it a useful metal for chemical reaction vessels and pipes for corrosive liquids. Heat exchanging coils for the steam heating of hydrochloric acid are made from tantalum.<ref name="Balke">{{cite journal|page= 1166|journal = Industrial and Engineering Chemistry|volume = 20|issue = 10|title = Columbium and Tantalum|first = Clarence W.|last = Balke|doi=10.1021/ie50310a022|date= 1935}}</ref> Tantalum was extensively used in the production of [[ultra high frequency]] [[Vacuum tube|electron tubes]] for radio transmitters. Tantalum is capable of capturing oxygen and nitrogen by forming nitrides and oxides and therefore helped to sustain the high vacuum needed for the tubes when used for internal parts such as grids and plates.<ref name="ICE" /><ref name="Balke" />

===Surgical uses===
Tantalum is widely used in surgery because of two unique characteristics of tantalum.  Tantalum's hardness and ductility is useful in making sharp, durable surgical instruments and also for monofilament sutures. However, a completely unrelated use for tantalum in surgery arises from its unique ability to form a lasting and durable structural bond with human hard tissue, making it uniquely useful for bone and dental implants.<ref name="Gerald L. Burke 1940">{{cite journal|last=Burke|first=Gerald L. |title =The Corrosion of Metals in Tissues; and An Introduction to Tantalum |pages=125–128|date=August 1940|journal=Canadian Medical Association Journal|volume=43|issue=2|pmid=20321780 |pmc=538079 }}</ref>  Tantalum coatings are increasingly used in the construction of complex tantalum-coated titanium surgical implants due to the tantalum plating's ability to form a strong and biologically stable bond to hard tissue.<ref>{{cite journal|first1 = R.|last1 = Cohen|date = 2006|title = Applications of porous tantalum in total hip arthroplasty|journal = Journal of the American Academy of Orthopaedic Surgeons|volume = 14|pmid=17077337|last2 = Della Valle|first2 = C. J.|last3 = Jacobs|first3 = J. J.|issue = 12|pages = 646–55|doi = 10.5435/00124635-200611000-00008}}</ref> An incidental consequence of its use for durable surgical implants is that tantalum implants are considered to be acceptable for patients undergoing MRI procedures because tantalum is a non-ferrous, non-magnetic metal.<ref name="PaganiasTsakotos2012">{{cite journal|last1=Paganias|first1=Christos G.|last2=Tsakotos|first2=George A.|last3=Koutsostathis|first3=Stephanos D.|last4=Macheras|first4=George A.|title=Osseous integration in porous tantalum implants|journal=Indian Journal of Orthopaedics|volume=46|issue=5|year=2012|pages=505–13|issn=0019-5413|doi=10.4103/0019-5413.101032|pmid=23162141|pmc=3491782 |doi-access=free }}</ref><!--10.1016/j.actbio.2010.01.046 -->

===Other uses===
[[File:Tantalio.png|thumb|320x320px|[[Bi-metallic coin|Bimetallic]] coins minted by the Bank of [[Kazakhstan]] with silver ring and tantalum center. These two feature the [[Apollo–Soyuz]] and the [[International Space Station]]]]

Tantalum was used by [[NASA]] to shield components of spacecraft, such as ''[[Voyager 1]]'' and ''[[Voyager 2]]'', from radiation.<ref>{{Cite book|last=Bell|first=Jim|title=The Interstellar Age: the story of the NASA men and women who flew the forty-year Voyager mission|publisher=Dutton|year=2015|isbn=978-0-525-95432-3|location=New York|pages=110}}</ref> The high melting point and oxidation resistance led to the use of the metal in the production of [[vacuum furnace]] parts. Tantalum is extremely inert and is therefore formed into a variety of corrosion resistant parts, such as [[thermowell]]s, valve bodies, and tantalum fasteners. Due to its high density, [[shaped charge]] and [[explosively formed penetrator]] liners have been constructed from tantalum.<ref>{{cite journal|title = Microstructure of high-strain, high-strain-rate deformed tantalum|first = Sia|last = Nemat-Nasser|author2 = Isaacs, Jon B.|author3 = Liu, Mingqi|journal = Acta Materialia|volume = 46|page= 1307|date = 1998|doi = 10.1016/S1359-6454(97)00746-5|issue = 4|bibcode = 1998AcMat..46.1307N}}</ref> Tantalum greatly increases the armor penetration capabilities of a shaped charge due to its high density and high melting point.<ref>{{cite journal|doi = 10.1016/S0734-743X(01)00135-X|title = The penetration resistance of a titanium alloy against jets from tantalum shaped charge liners|date = 2001|last1 = Walters|first1 = William|author2 = Cooch, William|author3 = Burkins, Matthew|journal = International Journal of Impact Engineering|volume = 26|issue = 1–10|page= 823|last4 = Burkins|first4 = Matthew| bibcode=2001IJIE...26..823W | s2cid=92307431 |url = https://zenodo.org/record/1260077}}</ref><ref>{{cite book |author=Russell |first1=Alan M. |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=fIu58uZTE-gC&pg=PA129 |title=Structure-property relations in nonferrous metals |last2=Lee |first2=Kok Loong |date=2005 |publisher=Wiley-Interscience |isbn=978-0-471-64952-6 |location=Hoboken, New Jersey |page=218 |language=en-us}}</ref> <!--http://www.meyersgroup.ucsd.edu/papers/journals/Meyers 176.pdf LE Murr, S Pappu, C Kennedy, CS Niou, M Meyers – Tantalum, 1996 http://www.osti.gov/bridge/servlets/purl/274177-TGUy10/webviewable/274177.pdf--> It is also occasionally used in precious [[watch]]es e.g. from [[Audemars Piguet]], [[F. P. Journe]], [[Hublot]], [[Montblanc (pens)|Montblanc]], [[Omega SA|Omega]], and [[Panerai]]. Tantalum oxide is used to make special high [[refractive index]] [[glass]] for [[camera]] lenses.<ref>{{cite book|title = Optical Materials: An Introduction to Selection and Application|chapter = Optical Glass Composition|first = Solomon|last = Musikant|publisher = CRC Press|date = 1985|page = 28|isbn = 978-0-8247-7309-0|chapter-url = https://books.google.com/books?id=iJEXMF3JBtQC&pg=PA28}}</ref> Spherical tantalum powder, produced by atomizing molten tantalum using gas or liquid, is commonly used in [[additive manufacturing]] due to its uniform shape, excellent [[flowability]], and high melting point.<ref>{{cite web |url=https://www.refractorymetal.org/spherical-tantalum-powder-for-3d-printing/ |title=Spherical Tantalum Powder for 3D Printing |website=Advanced Refractory Metals |date=30 May 2023 |access-date=Sep 22, 2024}}</ref><ref>{{cite journal |last1=Li |first1=Qiqi |last2=Zhang |first2=Baicheng |last3=Wen |first3=Yaojie |year=2022 |title=A comprehensive study of tantalum powder preparation for additive manufacturing |journal=Spplied Surface Science |volume=593 |page=153357 |doi=10.1016/j.apsusc.2022.153357|bibcode=2022ApSS..59353357L }}</ref>