Mechanical strength, tantalum

Aluminium alloys well with up to about 3-5 per cent, of tantalum, which has no effect, however, on the mechanical strength, ductility, and working properties of aluminium.3 Reduction of tantalum pentoxide by the thermite process yields hard, brittle alloys.1 A substance the composition of which corresponds with the formula TaAls has been obtained by reducing potassium tantalum fluoride, K2TaF7, with aluminium filings at a high temperature. It is described as an iron-grey crystalline powder, of density 7-02, which is scarcely attacked by acids.5... 

The lattice of vanadium expands approximately linearly with the addition of aluminum [64]. The aluminum intermetallic compound, V3AI (V-25 atom% Al), expands the lattice by about 1% from 0.3025 nm in unalloyed vanadium to 0.3054 nm [64]. Molybdenum, cobalt and titanium also expand the lattice of vanadium, whereas elements such as chromium and iron cause the lattice to contract [83]. Addition of these elements can increase the mechanical strength of alloys relative to unalloyed vanadium [85]. For niobium and tantalum, mechanical properties can also be improved by alloying [86]. Buxbaum has patented a number of alloys of niobium, tantalum and vanadium for membrane use, including Ta-W, V-Co, V-Pd, V-Au, V-Cu, V-Al, Nb-Ag, Nb-Pt, Nb-Pd, V-Ni-Co, V-Ni-Pd, V-Nb-Pt, and V-Pd-Au [45]. 

Alloying iron with nickel and chromium is necessary to mitigate corrosion above 900 °C. At higher temperatures, 2% A1 addition increases the alloy oxidation resistance [19,20]. The oxidation rate of austenitic stainless steels (Types 309 and 310) decreases with the addition of nickel in the alloy, while the addition of tungsten, niobium, tantalum, and molybdenum increase mechanical strength, as shown in Fig. 11.7 [3]. 

Tantalum Porous structure Good mechanical strength Excellent osseousintegration... 

Above 900°C, only refractory metals, such as tantalum and tungsten, retain sufficient mechanical strength to serve the required function. Cost and fabricability must be addressed if these lefiiactory metals are required. Experience under 900°C or greater temperature operating conditions is limited at best, and extensive qualification testing would be required to prove the code case. 

Niobium, sometimes called columbium, can be a less-expensive alternative to tantalum. However, its corrosion resistance is more limited, mostly because of its susceptibility to attack by most alkalies and certain strong oxidants. Even though the mechanical strength of niobium is less than that of tantalum, it can be used economically where the extreme inertness of tantalum is not required. It occurs naturally with tantalum in the minerals columbite and tantalite. 

The mechanical properties of tantalum are dependent on the previous history of the material and the manufacturer should be consulted if these properties are likely to be critical. The physical and some typical mechanical properties are listed in Tables 5.21 and 5.22. The effect of the temperature on the strength and elongation of tantalum sheet in vacuum is shown in Figs. 5.8 and 5.9. 

Alternatives to activated tungsten wire emitters are also known, but less widespread in use. Cobalt and nickel [44,47] as well as silver [48] can be electrochemi-cally deposited on wires to produce activated FD emitters. Mechanically strong and efficient emitters can be made by growing fine silicon whiskers from silane gas on gold-coated tungsten or tantalum wires of 60 pm diameter. [45] Finally, on the fracture-surface of graphite rods fine microcrystallites are exposed, the sharpness of which provides field strengths sufficient for ionization. [49]... 

Recently, a cellular, structural biomaterial comprised of 15 to 25% tantalum (75 to 85% porous) has been developed. The average pore size is about 550 p,m, and the pores are fully interconnected. The porous tantalum is a bulk material (i.e., not a coating) and is fabricated via a proprietary chemical vapor infiltration process in which pure tantalum is uniformly precipitated onto a reticulated vitreous carbon skeleton. The porous tantalum possesses sufficient compressive strength for most physiological loads, and tantalum exhibits excellent biocompatibility [Black, 1994]. This porous tantalum can be mechanically attached or diffusion bonded to substrate materials such as Ti alloy. Current commercial applications included polyethylene-porous tantalum acetabular components for total hip joint replacement and repair of defects in the acetabulum. 

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