Laser Cut Tantalum
Are you looking for a chemically inert metal for specific purposes? If so, you may be interested in using tantalum. Tantalum has become a popular component in metallic alloys. Furthermore, you can also customize this metal to meet your needs. That is where laser cut tantalum might be helpful for you.
At Micron Laser Technology, we have the equipment, training, and experience necessary to work with a variety of metals, including tantalum. It would be our pleasure to laser machine tantalum to meet your specific needs. Learn more about tantalum below, and see why we offer laser cutting tantalum services.
What Is Tantalum?
Tantalum is an extremely rare metal that has become popular throughout numerous industries. It usually has a blue-gray color. It is extremely hard and very lustrous. Because it is a transition metal, it exhibits high levels of corrosion resistance when it comes into contact with air and moisture.
As a member of the refractory metals group, tantalum is commonly used in metal alloys. In research laboratories, tantalum is commonly substituted for platinum when platinum is unavailable.
Tantalum can be processed in sheet, strip, and foil formats per standard specification ASTM B708 or medical grade tantalum standard ASTM F560. Commercial grade ASTM tantalum purities include 99.5% to 99.999% (or 3N5 to 5N purity).
Today, tantalum is in use in numerous applications. In particular, tantalum is common in the electronics industry. Some of the most common locations where you may find tantalum include:
- Cell phones and smartphones
- CD, DVD, and Blu-ray players
- Numerous video game systems
- Countless tablets, laptops, and computers
Other uses or applications for tantalum include:
- Medical implants
- Chemical process equipment
- Laboratory equipment
- Nuclear reactors
- Aerospace and Defense parts
Why Use Tantalum?
There are several reasons why you may want to laser process tantalum. First, tantalum is chemically inert. Meaning, it is not going to react when it comes into contact with a wide variety of other chemicals including bodily fluids/tissue. If you are looking for metal or alloy that can keep your device/process stable, the chemically inert attribute of tantalum makes a good choice. In particular, this is perfect for anyone who works in a research lab and is going to be working with a variety of acids and bases.
Furthermore, tantalum is also very resistant to corrosion. This means that tantalum is not going to oxidize easily. If exposed to water or moisture, for example, you don’t have to worry about rust or corrosion. Tantalum with it’s corrosion-resistant properties at high temperatures minimizes product or vessel contamination. Its high thermal conductivity is useful thermal applications for equipment such as heat exchangers.
Across the world, tantalum is considered a vital element for producing high-tech devices. Totally inert and biocompatible tantalum contributes to modern medicine through advanced hospital equipment and surgical implants. Tantalum capacitors are used in implantable hearing aids, neurostimulators, pacemakers, defibrillators & insulin pumps. Surgical applications of tantalum metal include hip/knee replacement parts, vessel clips, abdominal staples, and reconstructive surgery plates to name a few.
Trust Micron Laser Technology for Laser Cutting Tantalum Services!
If you are working with tantalum, you may need to customize it for specific purposes. For example, if you produce technology equipment, then you need to cut your tantalum into very fine parts so it meets your purposes.
One of the best ways to integrate the benefits of tantalum into your design is by contact-free, laser cutting and drilling of tantalum. With access to Micron Laser Technology’s tantalum laser processing services, you can take advantage of the natural properties of tantalum while also shaping it quickly and efficiently for your production/product purposes.
When selecting a partner tantalum laser machining to your precise part requirements, consider material access, tantalum process experience, and fast lead times. At Micron Laser Technology, we check all of the boxes.