Biological performance of tantalum.

Biological performance of tantalum.

Clinical materials (1993-12-09)

J Black

ABSTRACT

A detailed literature search was carried out to define the current knowledge about the biological performance of tantalum. The pure metal appears, to a great degree, to be inert both in vivo and in vitro. Both the pure metal and its principle oxide possess low solubility and toxicity; however, halide compounds are more biologically active. Local host response is benign, characterized by vital encapsulation in soft tissue and frequent osteointegration, reminiscent of titanium, in hard tissue. Tantalum has been in clinical use since before 1940 and has found a wide range of diagnostic and implant applications, with apparently overall excellent results. In some applications, such as for radiographic bone markers and cranial closure, tantalum may well be the current material of choice. In summary, metallic tantalum is a promising biomaterial whose applications have been limited by technical rather than biological performance considerations.

MATERIALS

Product Number

Brand

Product Description

262846

Sigma-Aldrich

Tantalum, powder, −325 mesh, 99.9% trace metals basis

692824

Sigma-Aldrich

Tantalum, powder, 60-100 mesh, 99.9%

GF99542368

Tantalum, foil, 10mm disks, thickness 0.03mm, as rolled, 99.9%

GF69110759

Tantalum, foil, 10mm disks, thickness 0.015mm, 99.9%

GF97180870

Tantalum, foil, light tested, 50x50mm, thickness 0.01mm, 99.9%

GF96724480

Tantalum, foil, 8mm disks, thickness 0.20mm, annealed, 99.9%

GF12486618

Tantalum, foil, 8mm disks, thickness 0.02mm, 99.9%

GF87367405

Tantalum, foil, 4mm disks, thickness 0.75mm, annealed, 99.9%

GF47210004

Tantalum, foil, 15mm disks, thickness 0.034mm, as rolled, 99.9%

GF38684964

Tantalum, foil, 8mm disks, thickness 0.25mm, annealed, 99.99%

GF55289548

Tantalum, foil, 15mm disks, thickness 0.5mm, annealed, 99.9%

GF15731186

Tantalum, foil, light tested, 25x25mm, thickness 0.01mm, 99.9%

GF29232109

Tantalum, foil, 6mm disks, thickness 0.5mm, annealed, 99.9%

GF35633785

Tantalum, foil, light tested, 25x25mm, thickness 0.015mm, 99.9%

GF26536057

Tantalum, foil, not light tested, 25x25mm, thickness 0.004mm, 99.9%

GF67039791

Tantalum, foil, 8mm disks, thickness 0.03mm, as rolled, 99.9%

GF91998253

Tantalum, foil, light tested, 100x100mm, thickness 0.025mm, as rolled, 99.9%

GF50730106

Tantalum, foil, not light tested, 50x50mm, thickness 0.003mm, 99.9%

GF27272167

Tantalum, foil, 8mm disks, thickness 0.025mm, as rolled, 99.9%

GF66499891

Tantalum, foil, 6mm disks, thickness 0.02mm, 99.9%

GF15417154

Tantalum, foil, not light tested, 25x25mm, thickness 0.003mm, 99.9%

GF84004231

Tantalum, tube, 100mm, outside diameter 7.0mm, inside diameter 6.7mm, wall thickness 0.15mm, as drawn, 99.9%

GF42443984

Tantalum, foil, not light tested, 100x100mm, thickness 0.01mm, 99.9%

GF90076989

Tantalum, foil, not light tested, 50x50mm, thickness 0.0015mm, 99.9%

GF11770714

Tantalum, tube, 100mm, outside diameter 1.02mm, inside diameter 0.86mm, wall thickness 0.08mm, as drawn, 99.9%

GF01901539

Tantalum, foil, not light tested, 50x50mm, thickness 0.002mm, 99.9%

GF73528296

Tantalum, tube, 1000mm, outside diameter 3.5mm, inside diameter 3.1mm, wall thickness 0.2mm, as drawn, 99.9%

GF93289090

Tantalum, foil, light tested, 25x25mm, thickness 0.004mm, 99.9%

GF40007933

Tantalum, rod, 100mm, diameter 3.0mm, annealed, 99.9%

GF64866202

Tantalum, foil, not light tested, 82x100mm, thickness 0.006mm, 99.9%