Tantalum

180.95

180.94800

231-135-5

6424HBN274

1596

3089

DTXSID8064690

Silvery gray metal, body-centered cubic crystal structure|CUBIC OR POWDER|Gray, very hard, malleable, ductile metal|Black powder; steel-blue-colored metal when unpolished, nearly platinum white when polished|Metal: Steel-blue to gray solid or black powder.

0

0.00000

Gray to silver wire

16.64 g/cm³

2996 °C

5429 °C

>250°C

Index of refraction: 2.05

very resistant to attack by acids except HF, resistant to alkali solutions [KIR83]

<0.01 mm Hg ( 537.2 °C)

Trachea-rat TDL0: 250 mg/kg

Spontaneously ignitable in air; toxic tantalum-containing fumes are released in the fire

Metallic tantalum powder presents...explosion hazard, although not as serious as that of other metals (zirconium, titanium, etc).

Odorless

Atomic number: 73; can readily be drawn in fine wires; valences: 5, also 4, 3, 2.|Two naturally occurring isotopes: 181 (99.99877%); 180 (0.0123%) Half-life: >10+12 years; artificial isotopes: 172-179; 182-186|Specific heat (0 °C): 0.036 cal/g °C; Electrical resistivity: (18 °C): 12.4 microohm-cm|Very resistant to chemical attack; not attacked by aqueous acids other than hydrofluoric; not attacked by aqueous alkalies; slowly attacked by fused alkalies. Reacts with fluorine, chlorine, and oxygen only on heating. At high temperatures absorbs several hundred times its volume of hydrogen; combines with nitrogen, with carbon.|For more Other Experimental Properties (Complete) data for TANTALUM (11 total), please visit the HSDB record page.

Metal, Combustible Solid; powder ignites SPONTANEOUSLY in air. Highly flammable in Air (powdered form) No rapid reaction with water

Metals, Elemental and Powder, Active

Strong Reducing Agent

TANTALUM dust reacts rapidly with oxidizing agents (oxygen, fluorine, chlorine). Highly flammable in air, igniting spontaneously when dry. (Lewis, 3rd Ed, 1993). Dissolves in molten bases (such as sodium hydroxide). Insoluble in aqueous bases. Insoluble in acids except hydrofluoric acid and fuming sulfuric acid. Tantalum in bulk form (bar, sheet, etc.) is much less reactive than it is in powdered form. TANTALUM OXIDE dust is generally unreactive at room conditions. Insoluble in water and acids with the exception of hydrofluoric acid. Reacts when strongly heated with sodium carbonate.

Metal: Combustible Solid; powder ignites SPONTANEOUSLY in air.

Dust explosion possible if in powder or granular form, mixed with air.

7.53X10+5 J/mol

II

4.1

UN 3089 4.1/PG 2

-

11-36/37/38-20/21/22-40-34-36/38

16-26-33-36/37/39-36-45-27-36/37

WW5505000

F,Xi,Xn,C

The warehouse is ventilated and dry at low temperature; stored separately from strong oxidants, bromine trifluoride and fluorine

Explosive when mixed with air

Stable. Powder is very flamable.

P210-P261-P305 + P351 + P338

H228-H315-H319-H335

SRP: At the time of review, criteria for land treatment or burial (sanitary landfill) disposal practices are subject to significant revision. Prior to implementing land disposal of waste residue (including waste sludge), consult with environmental regulatory agencies for guidance on acceptable disposal practices.

It reacts violently with bromine trifluoride, fluorine and lead chromate.|Strong oxidizers...|Although very unreactive in massive forms, the finely divided metal may be pyrophoric.

Ophthalmic tantalum clip. Identification: An ophthalmic tantalum clip is a malleable metallic device intended to be implanted permanently or temporarily to bring together the edges of a wound to aid healing or prevent bleeding from small blood vessels in the eye.|Cranioplasty plate fastener. Identification: A cranioplasty plate fastener is a screw, wire, or other article made of tantalum, vitallium, or stainless steel used to secure a plate to the patient's skull to repair a skull defect.|Preformed alterable cranioplasty plate. Identification: A preformed alterable cranioplasty plate is a device that is implanted into a patient to repair a skull defect. It is constructed of a material, e.g., tantalum, that can be altered or reshaped at the time of surgery without changing the chemical behavior of the material.|Mandibular implant facial prosthesis. Identification: A mandibular implant facial prosthesis is a device that is intended to be implanted for use in the functional reconstruction of mandibular deficits. The device is made of materials such as stainless steel, tantalum, titanium, cobalt-chromium based alloy, polytetrafluoroethylene, silicone elastomer, polyethylene, polyurethane, or polytetrafluoroethylene with carbon fibers composite.|Partial ossicular replacement prosthesis. Identification: A partial ossicular replacement prosthesis is a device intended to be implanted for the functional reconstruction of segments of the ossicular chain and facilitates the conduction of sound wave from the tympanic membrane to the inner ear. The device is made of materials such as stainless steel, tantalum, polytetrafluoroethylene, polyethylene, polytetrafluoroethylene with carbon fibers composite, absorbable gelatin material, porous polyethylene, or from a combination of these materials.

Combustible. May ignite spontaneously on contact with air. Finely dispersed particles form explosive mixtures in air.|Flammable - 2nd degree

|Danger|H228 (100%): Flammable solid [Danger Flammable solids]|P210, P223, P231+P232, P240, P241, P261, P264, P271, P280, P304+P340, P305+P351+P338, P312, P335+P334, P337+P313, P370+P378, P402+P404, P403+P233, P405, and P501|Aggregated GHS information provided by 4 companies from 1 notifications to the ECHA C&L Inventory. Each notification may be associated with multiple companies.|Warning|P210, P235+P410, P240, P241, P261, P264, P271, P280, P302+P352, P304+P340, P305+P351+P338, P312, P321, P332+P313, P337+P313, P362, P370+P378, P403+P233, P405, P407, P413, P420, and P501|Aggregated GHS information provided by 371 companies from 5 notifications to the ECHA C&L Inventory. Each notification may be associated with multiple companies.|H335: May cause respiratory irritation [Warning Specific target organ toxicity, single exposure; Respiratory tract irritation]|P261, P271, P304+P340, P312, P403+P233, P405, and P501|H302: Harmful if swallowed [Warning Acute toxicity, oral]|P261, P264, P270, P271, P301+P312, P304+P340, P305+P351+P338, P312, P330, P337+P313, P403+P233, P405, and P501

Skin: No recommendation is made specifying the need for personal protective equipment for the body. Eyes: No recommendation is made specifying the need for eye protection. Wash skin: No recommendation is made specifying the need for washing the substance from the skin (either immediately or at the end of the work shift). Remove: No recommendation is made specifying the need for removing clothing that becomes wet or contaminated. Change: No recommendation is made specifying the need for the worker to change clothing after the work shift. (NIOSH, 2016)|(See protection codes)

The dry powder ignites spontaneously in air.|Metallic tantalum powder presents a fire...hazard, although not as serious as that of other metals (zirconium, titanium, etc).

Metallic tantalum powder presents...explosion hazard, although not as serious as that of other metals (zirconium, titanium, etc).

Use no water; use powdered graphite, dolomite, sodium chloride, etc. Get instructions from the supplier of the powdered metal. /Powdered metals/|A tantalum fire cannot be extinguished with the usual firefighting chemicals. The only effective way to control a tantalum fire is to smother it with a nonoxidizing chemical like sodium chloride or argon.

Open flames, arcs and sparks should be avoided in areas where tantalum powder is handled.

An inhalation hazard.

Permissible Exposure Limit: Table Z-1 8-hr Time Weighted Avg: 5 mg/cu m. /Tantalum, metal and oxide dust/

Recommended Exposure Limit: 10 Hr Time-Weighted Avg: 5 mg/cu m. /Tantalum (metal and oxide dust, as Ta)/|Recommended Exposure Limit: 15 Min Short-Term Exposure Limit: 10 mg/cu m. /Tantalum (metal and oxide dust, as Ta)/

Remove all ignition sources. Personal protection: particulate filter respirator adapted to the airborne concentration of the substance. Cover the spilled material with dry inert absorbent. Vacuum spilled material with specialist equipment. Then store and dispose of according to local regulations.

Fireproof. Separated from strong oxidants and halogens.

A nuisance-causing concentration of airborne particles can be reached quickly when dispersed.

May cause mechanical irritation.

NO open flames, NO sparks and NO smoking. Closed system, dust explosion-proof electrical equipment and lighting. Prevent deposition of dust.

PREVENT DISPERSION OF DUST!

Avoid inhalation of dust.

Protective gloves.

Wear safety spectacles.

moderately toxic

Occurs almost invariably along with niobium... found in the minerals columbite, tantalite, and microlite.|Obtained from ores tantalite or columbite... mixed oxides of iron, manganese, niobium and tantalum. ...Considered as rare element earth's crust contains about 0.003% of niobium and tantalum together... .

CLINICAL STUDIES MADE ON 22 RUSSIAN CHEM WORKERS & WELDERS HANDLING BOTH TA & NIOBIUM SHOWED LITTLE EVIDENCE OF POISONING APART FROM RADIOLOGIC SIGNS OF EARLY PULMONARY FIBROSIS &, IN 1 OR 2 CASES, CHRONIC ATROPHIC RHINITIS. (...REF TO AIR CONCN OR TYPES OF COMPOUNDS...)|SOME INDUSTRIAL SKIN INJURIES FROM TANTALUM HAVE BEEN REPORTED. HOWEVER, SYSTEMIC INDUST POISONING IS APPARENTLY NOT KNOWN.|THE WORKING OF TANTALUM METAL PRESENTS THE HAZARDS OF BURNS, ELECTRIC SHOCK, & EYE & TRAUMATIC INJURIES. REFINING PROCESSES INVOLVES TOXIC & HAZARDOUS CHEMICALS SUCH AS HYDROGEN FLUORIDE, SODIUM & ORGANIC SOLVENTS.|HOW RELEVANT THE TOXICITY EVIDENCE OBTAINED FROM SOLID METAL SURFACES IS TO THAT OF FINELY DIVIDED TA METAL POWDER IS CERTAINLY QUESTIONABLE. CERTAINLY ONE WOULD EXPECT TANTALUM METAL FUME TO HAVE A DIFFERENT ORDER OF TOXICITY THAN THE MORE COARSELY DIVIDED DUSTS.

... In sheet form, is used in surgical repair of bones, muscles, & nerve tissues. Muscle tissue will attach itself to tantalum as though it were bone.|Due to its density, tantalum is used medically as a radiographic marker in polymeric and carbon devices. Fabricated Tantalumis malleable and has been used for many years for repair of cranial defects.|The biocompatibility of two types of radiopaque tantalum markers was evaluated histologically. Reactions to pin markers (99.9% purity) and spherical markers (95.2% purity) were investigated after 3-6 wks in rabbits and 5-48 wks in children with abnormal growth. Both marker types were firmly attached to bone trabeculae; this was most pronounced in rabbit bone, and no adverse macroscopic reactions were observed. Microscopically, no reactions or only slight fibrosis of bone tissue were detected, while soft tissues only demonstrated a minor inflammatory reaction. ... The bioinertness of tantalum was reconfirmed as was its suitability for use as skeletal and soft tissue radiographic markers.|This study determined the soft tissue attachment strength and extent of ingrowth to a porous tantalum biomaterial. Eight dorsal subcutaneous implants (in two dogs) were evaluated at 4, 8, and 16 weeks. Upon retrieval, all implants were surrounded completely by adherent soft tissue. Implants were harvested with a tissue flap on the cutaneous aspect and peel tested in a servo-hydraulic tensile test machine at a rate of 5 mm/min. Following testing, implants were dehydrated in a solution of basic fuschin, defatted, embedded in methylmethacrylate, and processed for thin-section histology. At 4, 8, and 16 weeks, the attachment strength to porous tantalum was 61, 71, and 89 g/mm respectively. Histologic analysis showed complete tissue ingrowth throughout the porous tantalum implant. Blood vessels were visible at the interface of and within the porous tantalum material. Tissue maturity and vascularity increased with time. The tissue attachment strength to porous tantalum was three- to six-fold greater than was reported in a similar study with porous beads. This study demonstrated that porous tantalum permits rapid ingrowth of vascularized soft tissue, and attains soft tissue attachment strengths greater than with porous beads.|For more Therapeutic Uses (Complete) data for TANTALUM (6 total), please visit the HSDB record page.

... The need for careful preparation and execution of /radiopaque tantalum/ marker implantations is stressed, and particularly avoidance of the use of emery in sharpening of cannulae.

There are no reports of accumulation of Ta in tissues or existence of any homeostatic excretory mechanism for Ta.|... The clearance times of tantalum metal powder following its introduction into the respiratory tract /was examined/. The tantalum was inhaled or insufflated in female beagle dogs as a partly neutron-activated 182Ta powder with a specific activity of about 2 microcuries/g for inhalation studies; for insufflation, it was blended with tantalum powder with a specific activity of about 5 microcuries/g. Airborne concns approximated 1 g/cu m at an aerodynamic mass of 4 um. Exposures were usually <1 hr, and were nasal only. 182Ta retention measurements indicated a rapid, early tracheobronchial passage, later followed by a prolonged alveolar clearance phase. After inhalation there was, on avg, 7 times more tantalum in te alveolar phase, compared to the amount insufflated. This "alveolarization" leads to prolonged retention with a mena biologic removal half-life >2 yr. The dominant clearance minsoluble mucociliary transport, was slower than that of most other insolubel dusts and appeared independent of the presence of tantalum in the respiratory tract. Pulmonary clearance of tantalum dust following insufflation in dogs was dependent on particle size; a 1 um powder was removed form the alveolar regions with a clearance half-life of 2.1 yr and 5 or 10 um powders were removed with a half-time of 333 days. Rapid postinsufflation uptake by the pulmonary lymph nodes was observed with up to 12% of the initial alveolar burden present in the lymph nodes at 240 days and 6% present at 816 days.

This "alveolarization" leads to prolonged retention with a mena biologic removal half-life >2 yr. The dominant clearance minsoluble mucociliary transport, was slower than that of most other insolubel dusts and appeared independent of the presence of tantalum in the respiratory tract. Pulmonary clearance of tantalum dust following insufflation in dogs was dependent on particle size; a 1 um powder was removed form the alveolar regions with a clearance half-life of 2.1 yr and 5 or 10 um powders were removed with a half-time of 333 days.

The purpose of the present study is to clarify the reason why the NaOH and heat treatments accelerate the apatite formation on tantalum metal. X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy was used to analyze changes in surface structure of the tantalum metal at an initial stage after immersion in SBF. Untreated tantalum metal had tantalum oxide passive layer on its surface, while amorphous sodium tantalate was formed on the surface of the tantalum metal by the NaOH and heat treatments. After soaking in SBF, the untreated tantalum metal sluggishly formed small amount of Ta-OH groups by a hydration of the tantalum oxide passive layer on its surface. In contrast, the treated tantalum metal rapidly formed Ta-OH groups by exchange of Na+ ion in the amorphous sodium tantalate on its surface with H3O+ ion in /simulated body fluid/. Both the formed Ta-OH groups combined with Ca2+ ion to form a kind of calcium tantalate, and then with phosphate ion, followed by combination with large amount of Ca2+ ions and phosphate ions to build up apatite layer. The formation rate of Ta-OH groups on the treated tantalum metal predominates the following process including adsorption of Ca2+ ion and phosphate ion on the surface. It is concluded that the acceleration of the apatite nucleation on the tantalum metal in SBF by the NaOH and heat treatments was attributed to the fast formation of Ta-OH group, followed by combination of the Ta-OH groups with Ca2+ and phosphate ions.

Exposure Routes: inhalation, skin and/or eye contact Symptoms: Irritation eyes, skin Target Organs: Eyes, skin, respiratory system (NIOSH, 2016)

Eye: If this chemical contacts the eyes, immediately wash the eyes with large amounts of water, occasionally lifting the lower and upper lids. Get medical attention immediately. Contact lenses should not be worn when working with this chemical. Breathing: If a person breathes large amounts of this chemical, move the exposed person to fresh air at once. If breathing has stopped, perform mouth-to-mouth resuscitation. Keep the affected person warm and at rest. Get medical attention as soon as possible. (NIOSH, 2016)|(See procedures)

Fresh air, rest.

Remove contaminated clothes. Rinse and then wash skin with water and soap.

First rinse with plenty of water for several minutes (remove contact lenses if easily possible), then refer for medical attention.

Basic treatment: Establish a patent airway. Suction if necessary. Watch for signs of respiratory insufficiency and assist ventilations if needed. Administer oxygen by nonrebreather mask at 10 to 15 L/min. Monitor for pulmonary edema and treat if necessary ... . Monitor for shock and treat if necessary ... . Anticipate seizures and treat if necessary ... . For eye contamination, flush eyes immediately with water. Irrigate each eye continuously with normal saline during transport ... . Do not use emetics. For ingestion, rinse mouth and administer 5 ml/kg up to 200 ml of water for dilution if the patient can swallow, has a strong gag reflex, and does not drool ... . Cover skin burns with dry sterile dressings after decontamination ... . /Poison A and B/|Advanced treatment: Consider orotracheal or nasotracheal intubation for airway control in the patient who is unconscious, has severe pulmonary edema, or is in respiratory arrest. Positive pressure ventilation techniques with a bag valve mask device may be beneficial. Monitor cardiac rhythm and treat arrhythmias as necessary ... . Start an IV with D5W /SRP: "To keep open", minimal flow rate/. Use lactated Ringer's if signs of hypovolemia are present. Watch for signs of fluid overload. Consider drug therapy for pulmonary edema ... . For hypotension with signs of hypovolemia, administer fluid cautiously. Watch for signs of fluid overload ... . Treat seizures with diazepam (Valium) ... . Use proparacaine hydrochloride to assist eye irrigation ... . /Poison A and B/

/HUMAN EXPOSURE STUDIES/ The toxicity of...metallic tantalum, is low, which is probably due to its poor solubility.|/HUMAN EXPOSURE STUDIES/ Implantation of tantalum has not shown any adverse tissue reaction in ...man...|/HUMAN EXPOSURE STUDIES/ A 10 yr study of tantalum gauze use in the repair of hernias revealed no effects from the gauze itself.|/HUMAN EXPOSURE STUDIES/ There are few reports of presence of Ta in food materials, and accidental poisonings, if any, are rare.|For more Human Toxicity Excerpts (Complete) data for TANTALUM (7 total), please visit the HSDB record page.

Tantalum

inhalation, skin and/or eye contact

irritation eyes, skin; In Animals: pulmonary irritation

Cough.

Redness.

Eyes, skin, respiratory system

(2001) 550 metric tons; (2002) 525 metric tons (est).

FORMS AND GRADES AVAILABLE: POWDER 99.6% PURE; SHEET; RODS; WIRE; ULTRAPURE; SINGLE CRYSTALS.

Computer and electronic product manufacturing|Tantalum: ACTIVE|Miscellaneous manufacturing|Tantalum hydride (TaH): ACTIVE|All heating of tantalum must be done under vacuum, or in a noble gas atmosphere (argon or helium), since it reacts readily with oxygen and nitrogen at elevated temperatures.|Since the first report that tantalum could be used for electrolytic capacitors, the growth of this application has been such that it now accounts for the highest consumption of the metal.

PAST SPECTROGRAPHIC METHODS...HAVE BEEN SUPPLANTED BY MORE SENSITIVE PHOTOMETRIC ANALYSIS & NEUTRON ACTIVATION ANALYSIS... THE ONE METHOD FOUND USEFUL IN US FOR DETERMINING TA IS SPARK SOURCE MASS SPECTROMETRY. /TANTALUM/|The classic method of analyzing for tantalum is by gravimetry after extraction as the fluoro complex on an ion-exchange resin. Low concentrations, i.e., in the ug/g region, are usually determined photometrically.|NIOSH Method: 0500, Issue 2; Analyte: airborne particulate material; Matrix: air; Procedure: gravimetric (filter weight); Estimated Level of Detection: 0.03 mg per sample. /Particulates not otherwise regulated, total/

Fire Hazards -> Flammable - 2nd degree