Tantalum–tungsten_alloys
Tantalum–tungsten alloys are in the refractory metals group that maintain useful physical and chemical properties even at high temperatures. The tantalum–tungsten alloys are characterized by their high melting point and the tension resistance. The properties of the final alloy are a combination of properties from the two elements: tungsten, the element with the highest melting point in the periodic table, and tantalum which has high corrosion resistance.[1][2]
The tantalum–tungsten alloys typically vary in their percentage of tungsten. Some common variants are:
- (Ta – 2.5% W) → also called 'tantaloy 63 metal.' The percentage of tungsten is about 2 to 3% and includes 0.5% of niobium. This alloy has a good resistance to corrosion and performs well at high temperatures. An example application is piping in chemical industries.[1]
- (Ta - 7.5% W) → also called 'tantaloy 61 metal,' has between 7 and 8% tungsten. The difference from this alloy to the others is that this alloy represents a high resilience modulus while maintaining its refractory properties.[1]
- (Ta - 10% W) → also called 'tantaloy 60 metal,' contains 9 to 11% tungsten. This alloy is less ductile than the other alloys and exhibits less plasticity. Applications include high-temperature, high-corrosion environments such as aerospace components, furnaces, and piping in nuclear plants.[1]