Tantalum and niobium market recovery application growth in recent years, with the demand for computers, digital cameras, mobile phones, vehicle-mounted electronic systems, the demand for tantalum is gradually out of the trough. Tantalum concentrate prices have also returned to normal. In recent years, the world's total demand for tantalum is about 2,000 tons, while the demand for niobium is more than 20,000 tons. The main USES of tantalum are tantalum powder for capacitors and tantalum wire, which account for more than half of the total consumption. Niobium is mainly used as an additive in iron and steel, which accounts for nearly 90% of the total consumption. In 2000, the consumption of tantalum peaked. The total consumption of tantalum reached a record 2,235 tons. Niobium demand has been flat. Characteristics: tantalum deposit size is small, ore grade is low, Mosaic size is fine and dispersed, polymetallic companion, resulting in difficult mining, difficult separation, difficult selection, low recovery rate; The occurrence state is poor and there are few mines with large-scale open-pit mining.
China does not have independent niobium mines, niobium is often associated with rare earth, tantalum. Reserves: the minimum industrial grade index for reserve calculation of tantalum and niobium deposits stipulated in China is: (Ta, Nb) 2050.016-0.028%. The grade of most tantalum and niobium deposits in China is close to or slightly higher than the minimum industrial grade index. There are almost no deposits with Ta205 grade exceeding 0.02%, while there are only a few carbonate deposits with Nb205 grade exceeding 0.1%, and all other deposits with Nb205 grade are around 0.02%. Tantalum and niobium reserve data show that China's tantalum (Ta205) reserves and basic reserves are still large in quantity, but almost none of the Ta205 grade of tantalum resources in China exceeds 0.02%. Obviously, it is difficult to compare the "reserves" converted from such a low grade with those calculated from high grade abroad. So is niobium. Tantalum and niobium smelting, processing technology innovation hydrometallurgical pulp extraction; Pyrolysis and low acid extraction; Off-line analysis, on-line analysis and microcomputer monitoring; Cold crystallization of potassium fluotantalate; Continuous jet precipitation process for the production of low fluorine Ta205 and Nb205; Production of high purity Ta205 and Nb205 by peroxide precipitation; Large flux mixing - clarifying extraction tank and combined extraction equipment; The international advanced potassium fluotantalate vacuum rotary drying equipment and far-infrared continuous drying equipment are adopted.
. Pyrometallurgy tantalum powder: high hematocrit of tantalum powder method, the control method of oxygen and nitrogen mixed with phosphorus technology and granulation technology, developed J, P, D, DP, W, and other tantalum powder production technology, developed a 10000-30000-50000-70000-80000 mu Fv/g series high export volume of tantalum powder, the level of more than 100000 mu Fv/g, chase high pressure high hematocrit tantalum powder into series, new methods of tantalum oxide reduction was studied. Niobium powder: niobium powder and other metal niobium and their alloys are produced and purified by a new process of aluminothermic reduction-horizontal EB furnace refining. The research level of capacitor grade niobium powder has reached 100,000-120,000 microns /g. Metal tantalum: using a new type isostatic pressing molding, sintered sintering, rolling breakdown, multi-mode continuous drawing, special surface treatment, such as continuous annealing and continuous cleaning process, developed a Φ export fine series of 0.25-0.20-0.17 mm diameter tantalum, research level of Φ 0.065 mm, tantalum wire tensile strength can control according to the customers' requirement in 32-168 KGF/was wide range, and can be used according to the customer request can improve the product's resistance to brittle, high temperature and bending resistance, resistance to guide performance. Ingots, bars, plates, tubes, sheets: the refining technology has been enhanced, there are 100, 200, 600KW electron beam furnace and 1 ton arc furnace, can produce a variety of specifications of tantalum and niobium metal and alloy ingots, as raw materials, can produce a variety of specifications of tubes, bars, plates, sheets, foil.
