Tantalum Metal and Alloys
Hard-to-Resist Tantalum Metal Materials
Tantalum metal is a heat-tolerant and refractory with excellent corrosion resistance similar to niobium. Often alloyed with other metals, tantalum is an exotic metal used to make superalloys.
Common applications of exotic tantalum metal include chemical processing, jet engines, and nuclear reactors. The oxidation properties of tantalum metal also make it an excellent choice for many electronic applications, including electrolytic capacitors and high-power resistors. It is also highly bio-compatible and used extensively for medical applications, such as skull plates, hip joints, suture clips, and stents.
Tantalum metal products (pure and with 2.5% tungsten) are typically produced using an electron beam melt followed by a vacuum arc remelt. Ingots are then processed by forging and then rolling, drawing, or extrusion to provide foil, sheet, plate, or rod/bar. Tubing is also available upon request.
What you need to know about buying Tantalum metal foil, strip, sheet, plate and rod/bar
- Tantalum metal rod/bar products are produced to ASTM B365 with foil (less than 0.005”), sheet (0.005” to 0.187”), and plate (over 0.187”) products produced to ASTM B708. Strip products can be supplied in coil and are usually less than 6” in width but can be supplied up to 12” in width. Tantalum products are available in the following alloys:
- R05200 – Unalloyed tantalum – electron beam or vacuum-arc melt, or both
- R05252 – Tantalum alloy, 97.5% tantalum, 2.5% tungsten
- All tolerances are per applicable specifications except for tantalum foil, which would be agreed on with the customer.
- Surface condition (as rolled, buffed, ground) should be supplied with each inquiry.
- Material is supplied in the annealed condition unless specified.
- We can provide ,machined and fabricated parts made from tantalum metal with supplied drawings.
Product Selection and Purchasing Options
Beyond tantalum metal, Leading Edge offers a wide range of products in multiple shapes and sizes, even in small quantities. Many are available for immediate shipment from our warehouse. If we don’t have the specialty material you need, there’s a good chance we can find it. With our flexible purchasing options, you can ensure materials are available when they’re needed. Purchasing options include blanket orders, just-in-time delivery, and consignment materials.
Research Lab Industry Standards and Requirements
The research lab industry constantly evolves, driven by a growing demand for scientific and technological advancement. Successful experimentation must ensure material integrity, safety, performance, and compliance with strict environmental and operational regulations.
These standards typically focus on aspects like purity, quality, and durability to guarantee that refractory metals meet the demanding conditions of high-stakes research applications. Because research labs serve multiple industries and extreme environments, there are more than average standards and requirements on this list.
Research Lab Standards and Requirements:
- ASTM International (American Society of Mechanical Engineers): Standards for materials used in energy applications.
- SAE Aerospace Material Specifications (AMS, formerly known as the Society of Automotive Engineers or SAE)
- ASME BPVC (Boiler and Pressure Vessel Code): Guidelines for materials used in pressure vessels and reactors.
- Department of Defense (DoD) Military Standards or Military Specifications (MIL) on the Defense Logistics Agency (DLA) ASSIST Database
We adhere to quality compliance certification standards and statutory regulations that pertain not only to the exotic materials we provide but also to our processes, custom machining services, traceability, and other aspects of our in-house expertise. Our materials specialists provide expert counsel on metal selection and inspection to ensure you receive materials that meet or exceed your expectations.
Leading Edge Metals & Alloys Certifications include:
- ISO9001:2015 and AS9100D Registered
- ITAR Registered
- DD2345 JCP Approval
- NIST SP 800-171 and CMMC Compliant
Our deep understanding of this industry stems from our extensive experience, skilled metallurgy professionals, and a history of successful partnerships with leading national research labs.
