Tantalum

In 1802, Swedish chemist Anders Gustaf Ekeberg discovered niobium. Due to the great chemical similarity between niobium and tantalum, determining the individual identity of the two elements posed a vexing problem. Therefore, chemists named the element after the mythological figure Tantalus, who suffered great torment.
It was not until 1844 that German chemist Heinrich Rose was able to prove that they were two different elements, naming the second element niobium after Niobe, the daughter of Tantalus.

From the beginning of the 20th century, tantalum was increasingly used in the electronics industry, especially for capacitors due to its ability to form stable oxide layers. From the 1940s onwards, tantalum developed into an important raw material for aerospace and medical technology.

Tantalum is an indispensable material for high-tech applications due to its extremely high corrosion resistance, biocompatibility, and excellent electrical performance.

Sixty to seventy percent is used in the electronics industry. The most important application for tantalum here is in capacitors. Tantalum capacitors offer high capacity in a small space, long service life, and stability, and are often used in miniaturized electrical circuits. They are installed in almost all smartphones, laptops, tablets, and consumer electronics. Tantalum is also used in the semiconductor industry, for example in chip coatings.

Its biocompatibility makes it interesting for use in medical implants and instruments.
In the chemical industry, its acid resistance is highly valued. It is used in acid-resistant equipment and in coatings for steel or titanium components.

Tantalum alloys are used in the aerospace industry in engine components that have to withstand extreme heat, as well as in satellites and heat shields.

In nuclear technology, tantalum absorbs neutrons. Tantalum is also used in some superconducting alloys.

Coltan (columbite-tantalite) is by far the most important tantalum ore. It is found mainly in the Democratic Republic of Congo, Rwanda, Brazil, and Australia. Tantalite is the purer tantalum variant of coltan. Microlite is often found in pegmatites and contains calcium in addition to tantalum. Wodginite is the ore found in the Wodgina mine in Australia.

The largest confirmed tantalum reserves are in Brazil and Australia, but the Congo dominates current production, which is characterized by small-scale mining. Rwanda also exports very large quantities of tantalum ore, but most of it is said to come from the conflict areas in eastern Congo.

The largest tantalum mine is Greenbushes in Australia, where lithium is also mined. Brazil is one of the top three tantalum producers in the world. Global Advanced Metals (GAM) processes tantalum from its mines in Brazil. The Australian company Pilbara Minerals operates the Pilgangoora lithium mine, where tantalum is produced as a by-product.

An important but controversial player is Mining Minerals Resources from Rwanda. In China, Ningxia Non-Ferrous Metals is a major processor of African and Chinese tantalum.
Global annual production of tantalum amounts to around 2,000 tons. However, official figures underestimate the actual quantities due to widespread illegal mining in Central Africa.

Tantalum can be replaced, but this may result in performance losses or higher costs.
Niobium and tungsten can be used in carbides, aluminum, ceramics, and niobium in electronic capacitors.
Glass, molybdenum, nickel, niobium, platinum, stainless steel, titanium, and zirconium replace tantalum in corrosion-resistant applications.
Hafnium, iridium, molybdenum, niobium, rhenium, and tungsten substitute tantalum in high-temperature applications.