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Merck

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

Sigma-Aldrich
Tantalum, foil, thickness 1.0 mm, ≥99.9% trace metals basis
Sigma-Aldrich
Tantalum, wire, diam. 1.0 mm, ≥99.9% trace metals basis
Sigma-Aldrich
Tantalum, foil, thickness 0.025 mm, ≥99.9% trace metals basis
Sigma-Aldrich
Tantalum, foil, thickness 0.25 mm, ≥99.9% trace metals basis
Sigma-Aldrich
Tantalum
Sigma-Aldrich
Tantalum, foil, thickness 0.5 mm, ≥99.9% trace metals basis
Tantalum, foil, 15mm disks, thickness 0.0125mm, 99.9%
Tantalum, foil, 4mm disks, thickness 0.075mm, annealed, 99.9%
Tantalum, foil, 4mm disks, thickness 0.0125mm, 99.9%
Tantalum, foil, not light tested, 25x25mm, thickness 0.0075mm, 99.9%
Tantalum, foil, light tested, 50x50mm, thickness 0.03mm, as rolled, 99.9%
Tantalum, foil, not light tested, 50x50mm, thickness 0.0025mm, 99.9%
Tantalum, foil, not light tested, 100x100mm, thickness 0.004mm, 99.9%
Tantalum, foil, not light tested, 50x50mm, thickness 0.0075mm, 99.9%
Tantalum, foil, light tested, 50x50mm, thickness 0.015mm, 99.9%
Tantalum, foil, light tested, 150x300mm, thickness 0.05mm, annealed, 99.9%
Tantalum, foil, not light tested, 25x25mm, thickness 0.009mm, 99.9%
Tantalum, foil, light tested, 50x50mm, thickness 0.05mm, annealed, 99.9%
Tantalum, foil, light tested, 25x25mm, thickness 0.025mm, as rolled, 99.9%
Tantalum, foil, not light tested, 50x50mm, thickness 0.009mm, 99.9%
Tantalum, tube, 1000mm, outside diameter 0.51mm, inside diameter 0.21mm, wall thickness 0.15mm, as drawn, 99.9%
Tantalum, foil, light tested, 25x25mm, thickness 0.075mm, annealed, 99.9%
Tantalum, rod, 25mm, diameter 16mm, as drawn, 99.9%
Tantalum, tube, 100mm, outside diameter 9.5mm, inside diameter 8.5mm, wall thickness 0.5mm, as drawn, 99.9%
Tantalum, rod, 100mm, diameter 1.5mm, annealed, 99.9%
Tantalum, foil, light tested, 50x50mm, thickness 0.025mm, as rolled, 99.9%
Tantalum, rod, 200mm, diameter 1.0mm, 99.9%
Tantalum, foil, not light tested, 100x100mm, thickness 0.0075mm, 99.9%
Tantalum, tube, 500mm, outside diameter 3.5mm, inside diameter 3.1mm, wall thickness 0.2mm, as drawn, 99.9%
Tantalum, rod, 50mm, diameter 16mm, as drawn, 99.9%