The process of reducing pure tantalum compounds to metallic tantalum with a reducing agent. The raw materials of pure tantalum compounds used are tantalum pentoxide, tantalum pentachloride, tantalum pentafluoride and fluoride salts (such as K2TaF7). Reductants include sodium, magnesium and other active metals, carbon and hydrogen. The melting point of tantalum is as high as 3669K, so it is powdered or cavernosum metal after reduction. The dense metal can only be obtained by further smelting or refining.
Tantalum is one of the most chemically stable metals at temperatures below 150 ° C. Only fluorine, hydrofluoric acid, acidic solutions containing fluoride ions and sulfur trioxide can react with tantalum.
Tantalum is very hard, with a hardness of 6-6.5. Its melting point is as high as 2996℃, third only to tungsten and rhenium.
Tantalum is malleable and can be drawn into filaments or made into thin foil.
Its coefficient of thermal expansion is small, at 6.6 parts per million per degree Celsius
In addition, it is very strong, even better than copper.