Tantalum was discovered in 1802 by the Swedish chemist Ekbom, and Bowden made the metal tantalum in 1903; A bluish light gray metal with a density of 16.50 g.m3, a hardness of 6 to 6.5, and a melting point of 2996 ° C, ranking third after tungsten and rhenium. Ductility, toughness is better than copper, cold processing can be drawn into fine wire and made of thin foil; The expansion coefficient is very small, every increase of 1℃, only 6.6 parts per million expansion; Strong chemical stability, does not react with water and air at room temperature, cold and hot states have strong corrosion resistance, can resist all inorganic acids except hydrofluoric acid. The tantalum metal is immersed in sulfuric acid at 200° C for one year, and the surface damage is only 0.006 mm. Experiments show that alkali solution, ammonia, chlorine gas, bromine water, dilute sulfuric acid and many other agents have no effect on tantalum at room temperature. "Tantalum can dissolve hydrogen at room temperature, start to form a solid solution, and then form hydride, which can be used as a hydrogen storage material.

Niobium-hafnium alloy C103 is first manufactured in America in 1965, and then used in nozzle extended segment of Apollo manned lunar module rocket engine.

Nb55Ti-45 has good superconductivity, it is used in superconducting industry. It is also strong enough to be used in aerospace industry.

RRR 300 Niobium sheet/plate