Manufacturing characteristics of tantalum sheet

Tantalum sheet are almost always cold processed. Generally, starting from a 15-30cm tantalum ingot, it is cold forged into a slab about 8-10m thick, and then cold rolled from this slab. The compression rate can be above 95%. In commercial production, slabs are usually rolled into 0.63-1.2cm thick plates using a two-roller or a four-roller, and the width is generally 51-102cm. Typically rolling is performed at or near room temperature to prevent the formation of oxides on the surface. When hot rolling is required, due to recrystallization, the temperature rises to 1000°C, and a violent oxidation reaction occurs.

Almost all thick plates are heat treated and annealed in a vacuum. Since there is no phase change, the rate of heating and cooling is not important. It is further rolled with an ordinary rolling mill. At this time, a 4-roller multi-roller is generally used. Because tantalum is very soft, care should be taken to prevent scratches during processing and transportation.