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Tantalum is a heavy, dark blue-gray, ductile, hard metal with an extremely high melting point (3170°C) and excellent corrosion resistance. This makes tantalum sheets incredibly versatile, perfect for the production of vacuum furnaces and other materials that require extreme heat and corrosive chemicals.
Sheeting Processes & Equipment
Forging, rolling, stamping and deep drawing are common manufacturing techniques for tantalum sheets. These processes are typically done cold but annealed sheets can be heated to 800 degrees F for forging, rolling or stamping.
Welding Procedures
Due to its high melting point, tantalum can be welded using resistance welding methods. However, the electrodes should be RWMAC class 2 and internal water cooling is recommended to avoid damaging the material.
Resistance welding of tantalum can be performed with a single- or multi-electrode system, with the current and pressure densities adjusted to provide adequate interface resistance. A high power input is necessary, and a short weld duration is required to prevent excessive external heating and to reduce oxidation.
Cleaning & Preparing the Material
Tantalum parts can be chemically cleaned using hot chromic acid commonly used to clean glass, or a saturated solution of potassium dichromate in hot concentrated sulphuric acid. Chromium trioxide is preferable over potassium dichromate because it eliminates the possibility of potassium residues on tantalum components.
Tantalum sheet can be forged, rolled or stamped, although these processes may be prone to seizing and galling if annealed. It can also be melted to produce super alloys and electron-beam melting components, as well as in chemical and oil industries.