Introduction:
Tantalum, a rare metal, was found in the soil of Punjab by a group of researchers led by Dr. Resmi Sebastian, who is an assistant professor in the institute’s Civil Engineering Department.
Not only is this discovery significant for Punjab, but it is also significant for India as a whole because tantalum is widely used in the electronics and semiconductor industries.
Characteristics of tantalum
Tantalum is a gray metal that is heavy and has a strong resistance to corrosion. Its atomic number is 73, and its characteristics include being a highly resistant to corrosion.
Because of its hardness and ductility, it can be stretched into thin wires without breaking, which is one of its most notable characteristics.
Tantalum’s resistance to corrosion can be linked to the material’s ability to develop an oxide layer that is extremely resistant to corrosion when it is exposed to air.
Immunity to Chemicals: It is virtually fully immune to chemical assault at temperatures below 150 degrees Celsius, and it is only attacked by some corrosive substances, such as hydrofluoric acid and certain acidic solutions.
Discoveries and the Origin of Names
A Swedish scientist named Anders Gustaf Ekenberg made the discovery in the year 1802 in minerals that were taken from Ytterby, which is located in Sweden. At first, an alternative type of niobium was assumed to be the substance in question.
Confirmation: In the year 1866, the Swiss chemist Jean Charles Galissard de Marignac was the one who confirmed the separation between tantalum and niobium.
The name Because it is insoluble in acids, it was given the name Tantalus, which is derived from the Greek legendary person of the same name. This was done to create a connection to Tantalus’ inability to drink water or pluck fruit when he was in the underworld.
Application of Tantalum
- Tantalum capacitors are an essential component in electrical equipment because they are able to store more electricity in smaller sizes without leaking.
- Substitute for Platinum Due to its high melting point, tantalum is a cost-effective alternative to platinum that can be used in a variety of applications.
- Chemical facilities, nuclear power plants, aircraft, missiles, and surgical equipment are all examples of industrial applications for this material.
- Cutting-Edge Material: Composite materials such as tantalum carbide (TaC) and graphite, which are recognized for their extreme hardness, are utilized in the cutting edges of high-speed machine tools.
