Tantalum is mostly used in the electronics industry. According to relevant reports, 60% ~ 65% of tantalum is used in the electronic industry. For example, tantalum powder sintered blocks are used to make anodes for various liquid and solid tantalum capacitors, tantalum wires are used as anode leads for capacitors, and tantalum foils and tantalum plates are used for tantalum foil capacitors, liquid tantalum capacitors and some special types of solid tantalum capacitors. Reflects the demand for capacitor grade tantalum powder in recent years. Although the demand for tantalum powder in the first half of 2002 decreased to different degrees compared with that in 2000 and 2001, the decline in the demand for tantalum powder in 2002 was reversed with the increase in the demand for tantalum capacitors, and the demand for tantalum powder increased by 25% compared with that in the second half of 2001. With the rapid increase of tantalum capacitor consumption in laptop computers, cameras, electronic controllers, mobile phones and automobile airbag systems and control systems, the application amount of tantalum in capacitors will still increase. The development of niobium capacitors is also very rapid, but because the limit operating temperature of niobium capacitors is low (no more than 105℃), the leakage rate is 5 ~ 10 times that of tantalum capacitors, so at present niobium capacitors do not pose a threat to the consumption of tantalum capacitors.
Tantalum is increasingly used in superalloys. At present, most of the aeroengine blades with good performance abroad are made of Ni - based single crystal superalloy, and the proportion of tantalum in the alloy is increasing. At the same time, a series of high temperature anti-oxidation CR-CR2TA alloys for ground based and aircraft engines are being studied at OakRidge National Laboratory and the University of Tennessee. Cr-cr2ta autogenous composites with uniformly layered Cr2TaLaves phase can be prepared by directional solidification technique. In such alloys, chromium-based solid solutions exhibited good plasticity and high temperature oxidation resistance, while Cr2TaLaves dispersed in chromium-based solid solutions improved the alloy system's high temperature strength and room temperature fracture toughness, as shown in FIG. 2. This is due to the fact that the layered structure makes it difficult for the crack to expand, which leads to its deflection, bifurcation and shear reinforcement, thus improving the fracture toughness of the material at room temperature. The successful development of such alloys will improve the thermal efficiency of gas turbines and lead to a wide range of applications for blades, seals and nozzles. In addition, it can be used for gas cleaning system components (such as hot gas filter), oil/gas well drill bits, etc.
