Tantalum

Abstract

Abstract The number of scientific articles published on tantalum has increased exponentially over the last 20 years. Electronic, optical, mechanical, and medical devices are just a few examples of modern applications of tantalum. Due to its use in electronic equipment such as mobile phones, DVD players, video game systems, and computers, it is considered a technology‐critical element. Tantalum is a hard blue–gray, lustrous transition metal from group Va. Tantalum is less abundant than other transition elements in the Earth's crust and occurs in the same minerals as niobium. To date, over 70 different chemical compositions of tantalum minerals have been identified. Those of greatest economic importance are tantalite, microlite, and wodginite. Tantalum compounds have been considered to be nontoxic with LD 50 values reported in the several thousand mg/kg body weight. Tantalum compounds are absorbed from the respiratory tract and eliminated through the kidneys. Their absorption from the gastrointestinal tract is poor and can be distributed to internal organs. Tantalum implants have been used in more than 500,000 orthopedic patients to date. Tantalum has also been used for dental and other medical device applications. Tantalum can enhance neovascularization, wound healing, and osteogenesis; implants containing tantalum may also enhance the initial healing by modifying gene expression profiles. Tantalum has also been investigated as a therapeutic for the treatment and prevention of osteoarthritis, intraoperative bleeding, and adolescent idiopathic scoliosis. In consideration of tantalum's minimal absorption and effective elimination from the body, it is thought to be innocuous and no human diseases from tantalum exposure are known.