1、 Usage scenarios and precautions
1. Application in high temperature environment
Tantalum has a melting point of 2996 ℃. Grain stabilized tantalum rods are commonly used in high-temperature equipment such as vacuum furnace heating elements, which can reduce structural failure caused by high-temperature grain growth. However, attention should be paid to the protective effect of the surface oxide layer (Ta ₂ O ₅) to avoid prolonged exposure to an oxidizing atmosphere that may cause embrittlement.
2. Corrosion resistance application
Tantalum processed parts are used in the chemical and pharmaceutical industries to manufacture corrosion-resistant equipment such as reactors and pipelines. They exhibit extremely high inertness to hydrochloric acid, nitric acid, and aqua regia at room temperature. Avoid contact with specific corrosive media such as hydrogen fluoride or fuming sulfuric acid.
3. Precision component manufacturing
Unannealed tantalum rods should be selected for machined parts such as tantalum screws and nuts, as the material is prone to gelatinization after annealing, which increases the difficulty of cutting; The cutting tool should be sharp and made of YG8/YW2 hard alloy material. It is recommended to have a cutting speed of ≥ 40m/min to reduce tool sticking.
2、 Maintenance and upkeep standards
1. Surface cleaning and protection
After use, deionized water or alcohol should be used to clean the surface of residual chemicals to prevent damage to the passivation film; When storing, it should be sealed and protected from light to avoid contact with elements such as carbon and nitrogen, which may cause embrittlement.
2. High temperature working condition management
Use tantalum heating elements in a vacuum or inert gas environment and regularly check the integrity of the oxide layer. If there is local peeling on the surface, it needs to be repaired by vacuum annealing (950~1300 ℃). Before annealing, it must be thoroughly cleaned to avoid hydrogen embrittlement.
3. Mechanical performance monitoring
Tantalum processed parts may experience fatigue cracks due to plastic deformation under cyclic loading, and regular non-destructive testing is required; Tantalum pressure vessels need to monitor the thermal stress in the weld area to prevent interface cracking caused by differences in thermal expansion coefficients.
4. Transportation and Storage
The packaging should be made of moisture-proof wooden boxes lined with plastic partitions, with a single weight of ≤ 100kg, to avoid deformation caused by collisions; During long-term storage, it is necessary to control the environmental humidity (RH ≤ 60%).
3、 Failure risk response
Erosion and Wear: In military applications, the thickness of tantalum coating should be selected based on the thermal expansion coefficient of the substrate to avoid coating peeling caused by thermal stress at high temperatures.
Chemical pollution: Tantalum may undergo alloying reactions when in contact with molten metals such as aluminum and copper, requiring the installation of isolation layers or the use of composite structures.