Tantalum-niobium metallurgy industry refers to the industry that manufactures tantalum-niobium metallurgical products from tantalum and niobium mines. Tantalum is a dark and high density stretchable solid at room temperature. It is a corrosion resistant rare metal with good thermal conductivity and electrical conductivity. Niobium is a soft gray ductile solid with a high melting point and corrosion resistant rare metal.
Lithium tantalum and lithium niobium crystals have been widely used in making various surface acoustic wave devices. Due to the different requirements of surface acoustic wave devices for different purposes on the quality of materials, so in the selection of materials should be a comprehensive consideration of quality, cost and production efficiency, reasonable use of materials, reduce the cost. At present, we mainly produce and apply 3 ~ 4in lithium tantalum and lithium niobium crystal bars and chips abroad, while we mainly produce and apply 2 ~ 4in lithium tantalum and lithium niobium crystal bars and chips at home. The 2in bar and wafer are the preferred material for intermediate frequency acoustic surface wave devices in China due to their mature growth and production technology and relatively low price. The 3 ~ 4in lithium tantalum and lithium niobium bars and wafers have relatively high quality and price, as well as high production efficiency and material utilization, which are mainly used for making high-frequency surface acoustic wave devices. Lithium tantalum has become the preferred material for high frequency surface acoustic wave devices because of its small crystal temperature coefficient and high quality reliability. In terms of optical applications, lithium niobium crystal has been one of the preferred materials for electro-optic modulators, Q switches and optical waveguide devices.
The production and application of potassium niobium, barium strontium niobium and sodium barium niobium crystals are not as mature and extensive as lithium niobium and lithium tantalum crystals.
