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Tantalum Foil (Light Tight)
Available Configurations
Properties common to all products in this list
| Purity | Thickness | Length | Width | Temper Options | Surface Finish Options | Special Variants |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 99.9% to 99.999% | 0.0005mm to 6mm | 5mm to 500mm | 5mm to 500mm | As Rolled, Annealed, Unannealed | Polished on both sides | Non-light tested; ASTM 560 standard available |
Need custom configurations? Please contact our Technical Solutions team.
Key Features
Tantalum possesses a combination of material characteristics that make it particularly well suited for chemical processing, semiconductor fabrication, vacuum systems, medical devices, and aerospace applications:
Exceptional Corrosion Resistance
Tantalum is highly resistant to aggressive acids such as hydrochloric, sulfuric, and nitric acid, outperforming stainless steel, titanium, and even platinum in many corrosive settings. This makes it indispensable in chemical processing equipment, semiconductor fabrication, and acid-resistant linings.
High Melting Point (3,017 °C)
Tantalum is stable at extreme temperatures, making it ideal for high-temperature furnace components, aerospace thermal shielding, and environments where refractory metals are required.
High Density (16.65 g/cm³)
Tantalum's high density provides strong protection from high-energy particles and radiation, making it valuable in spacecraft electronics shielding. It is also used in medical and industrial imaging, where reliable protection is needed in confined spaces.
Strong Dielectric Performance
Tantalum forms a thin, stable oxide layer with high dielectric strength and low leakage current, enabling its use in electrolytic capacitors. This property is critical in compact, reliable electronics such as medical implants, aerospace systems, and defence electronics.
High Ductility & Malleability
Tantalum foil can be cold-worked into ultra-thin, complex shapes without cracking, owing to its exceptional ductility and malleability. This allows for precision fabrication of components such as evaporator boats, furnace linings, and corrosion-resistant reactor liners in chemical processing and vacuum systems.
Excellent Thermal Conductivity (57 W/m·K)
Tantalum has a stable thermal conductivity across a wide temperature range, making it ideal for heat-transfer components in high-temperature vacuum furnaces, thermal shields in corrosive gas environments, and acid-resistant heat exchangers used in chemical processing.
Biocompatibility
Tantalum is bioinert and non-toxic, making it suitable for long-term implantation in medical devices. It does not trigger immune responses and is used in surgical tools, bone repair meshes, and implantable electronics.
Industrial Applications
High-purity tantalum's unique combination of corrosion resistance, thermal stability, ductility, and dielectric properties makes it indispensable across several high-value industries:
- ✦ Chemical Processing & Corrosive-Service Equipment
- Used in thin liners, gaskets, and reactor baffles to protect vessels and piping from hot acids, through its high corrosion resistance and excellent formability.
- ✦ Vacuum Systems & Semiconductor Manufacturing
- Used in evaporator boats, sputtering targets, beam-line shields, and furnace liners to maintain ultra-high vacuum conditions and contamination-free environments — owing to its high purity and ductility.
- ✦ High-Temperature Furnaces & Laboratory Apparatus
- Used in crucible supports, trays, and furnace linings to withstand elevated temperatures and adapt to furnace contours — owing to its high melting point and malleability.
- ✦ Electronics & Energy-Storage Devices
- Used as anode foil in electrolytic capacitors and sputter targets for dielectric coatings, due to its stable oxide offering high capacitance, low leakage, and reliable dielectric performance.
- ✦ Aerospace & Radiation Shielding
- Used in spacecraft electronics vaults and small satellites, tantalum foil can be laminated with aluminium into lightweight, multi-layer shields. This protects sensitive circuits from space radiation, ensuring reliability on long-duration missions.
- ✦ Nuclear & Refractory Applications
- Used in reactor internals, thermowells, and linings to withstand corrosion and radiation — delivering long service life by retaining strength at high temperatures.
Material Properties
| Element | Value |
|---|---|
| Atomic number | 73 |
| Crystal structure | Body centred cubic |
| Electronic structure | Xe 4f¹⁴ 5d³ 6s² |
| Valences shown | 2,3,4,5 |
| Atomic weight( amu ) | 180.9479 |
| Thermal neutron absorption cross-section( Barns ) | 22 |
| Photo-electric work function( eV ) | 4.1 |
| Natural isotope distribution( Mass No./% ) | 180/ 0.012 |
| Natural isotope distribution( Mass No./% ) | 181/ 99.988 |
| Atomic radius - Goldschmidt( nm ) | 0.147 |
| Ionisation potential( No./eV ) | 1/ 7.88 |
| Ionisation potential( No./eV ) | 2/ 16.2 |
| Element | Value |
|---|---|
| Material condition | Hard |
| Material condition | Soft |
| Poisson's ratio | 0.342 |
| Poisson's ratio | 0.342 |
| Bulk modulus( GPa ) | 196.3 |
| Bulk modulus( GPa ) | 196.3 |
| Tensile modulus( GPa ) | 185.7 |
| Tensile modulus( GPa ) | 185.7 |
| Hardness - Vickers( kgf mm⁻² ) | 200 |
| Hardness - Vickers( kgf mm⁻² ) | 90 |
| Tensile strength( MPa ) | 760 |
| Tensile strength( MPa ) | 172-207 |
| Yield strength( MPa ) | 705 |
| Yield strength( MPa ) | 310-380 |
| Element | Value |
|---|---|
| Electrical resistivity( µOhmcm ) | 13.5@20°C |
| Superconductivity critical temperature( K ) | 4.47 |
| Temperature coefficient( K⁻¹ ) | 0.0035@0-100°C |
| Thermal emf against Pt (cold 0C - hot 100C)( mV ) | 0.33 |
| Element | Value |
|---|---|
| Boiling point( C ) | 5425 |
| Density( gcm⁻³ ) | 16.6@20°C |
| Element | Value |
|---|---|
| Melting point( C ) | 2996 |
| Latent heat of evaporation( J g⁻¹ ) | 4165 |
| Latent heat of fusion( J g⁻¹ ) | 174 |
| Specific heat( J K⁻¹ kg⁻¹ ) | 140@25°C |
| Thermal conductivity( W m⁻¹ K⁻¹ ) | 57.5@0-100 |
| Coefficient of thermal expansion( x10⁻⁶ K⁻¹ ) | 6.5@0-100°C |