Tantalum has a melting temperature of 3000 deg C.  Tantalum is rather neutral and non-reactive when compared to most other materials.  These properties make it useful for the semiconductor and electronics industries and for tantalum sputtering targets.  Tantalum is considered very ductile over a wide range of temperatures which is the reason special skills are required to machine this material.  Tantalum is prone to hydrogen embrittlement.

Niobium has a melting temperature of 2470 deg C.  Niobium exhibits good thermal conductivity, and its corrosive resistence to many acids make it the material of choice for heat exchanger applications in the chemical, petroleum and pharmaceutical industries.  Niobium parts may also be used in applications that exhibit high temperatures.

Sylhan can help you with your refractory machining needs when it comes to tantalum and niobium.

CHROMIUM

Chromium has a melting temperature of 1900 deg C. which makes it a somewhat borderline refractory metal.  Chromium exhibits good resistance to corrosion. Because of its high vapor pressure, this element has become important for sputtering thin chromium layers for memory devises like CD and DVD discs and general sputtering target applications.

Contact us to find out more about our experience with machining molybdenum for different capabilities, including TZM machined parts and ion implantation part assemblies.  You can also contact us about tungsten alloy fabrication.