Tantalum cannot be processed in the ordinary way of processing ordinary metals. The general initial process is forging processing heat treatment, with two ways of hammering and stamping into flat slab or circular medium and small blank. Unlike other metals, tantalum cannot be hot-processed. The recrystallization temperature of tantalum exceeds 1000~C. If heated, excessive oxidation will occur even if the general protective coating is made. What is more serious is that if tantalum is exposed to such a high temperature, not only excessive oxidation will occur on the tantalum surface, but also oxygen can invade into the internal atoms of the matrix, making tantalum brittle. Not only oxygen but also nitrogen, carbon and hydrogen can make tantalum brittle. For the above reasons, tantalum is generally not processed hot. When heat work is necessary, a protective covering or an inert gas atmosphere is used.
Tantalum and tantalum alloy (such as Ta-2.5W, Ta-10W, Ta-40Nb, etc.) pipes are characterized by high melting point, corrosion resistance, good cold working performance, etc. They are widely used in chemical industry, high-temperature technology and atomic energy industry. It is mainly used for manufacturing reaction vessels and heat exchangers, pipes, condensers, bayonet heaters, spiral coils, U-shaped pipes, thermocouples and their protective pipes, liquid metal containers and pipes for chemical processes. Products with high melting point, strength, long service life, high temperature resistant performance is good wait for a characteristic, is widely used in thermal field, vacuum coating, solar energy, sapphire crystal, electronics, semiconductor, special ceramics, lighting, mechanical parts, glass, glass fiber, refractory fibre, rare earth metallurgy, industrial furnace, and many other fields.
Tantalum can be manufactured into welded and seamless tubes for a wide range of applications. Seamless tubes are made by extrusion, pipe shrinkage, or sheet deep drawing. Welding is made by forming a strip, then making a tube, and then welding the seams with a GTAW.
