鉭坩堝
Tantalum crucible is a crucible made of tantalum metal as the main material.
Here is some information about Tantalum crucible:
Features:
High melting point: The melting point of Tantalum is as high as 2996℃, which allows Tantalum crucibles to remain stable in high temperature environments and withstand high operating temperatures such as smelting and evaporation.
High corrosion resistance: Tantalum does not react to hydrochloric acid, concentrated nitric acid and "aqua regia" under cold and hot conditions, and will only be corroded in specific high-temperature strong acid environments (such as hot concentrated sulfuric acid, high-temperature phosphoric acid, etc.). This excellent corrosion resistance makes tantalum crucibles suitable for handling various corrosive substances.
Good ductility: Tantalum is soft and has good ductility. It can be drawn into filaments or made into thin foils, which is conducive to the processing and molding of tantalum crucibles and can meet the needs of different shapes and sizes.
Low expansion coefficient: Tantalum has a very small thermal expansion coefficient. When the temperature changes, the size of the crucible changes little, which helps to ensure the accuracy and stability of the experiment or production process.
Application areas:
Rare earth smelting: In the smelting process of rare earth metals, high temperature resistant and corrosion resistant containers are required. Tantalum crucibles can meet these requirements and can be used for smelting and purification of rare earth metals.
Chemical industry: Chemical production often involves the treatment of various corrosive substances. The corrosion resistance of tantalum crucibles makes it an ideal reaction container and evaporating dish in the chemical industry.
Electronic industry: It can be used as a crucible material for vacuum evaporation parts and used in the manufacture of electronic components, such as evaporation coating and other processes in the production process of semiconductor devices.
Scientific research experiments: In laboratories of universities and scientific research institutions, tantalum crucibles are often used for high temperature experiments, chemical analysis, etc., and are important tools for scientific researchers to conduct experimental research.
Production process: Generally includes the selection of raw materials, smelting, forging, machining, stamping and other process links. Through these processes, tantalum metal can be processed into crucibles of various shapes and sizes to meet the needs of different users.
When purchasing tantalum crucibles, you need to pay attention to its brand, purity, impurity content, size specifications and other parameters to ensure that it meets specific usage requirements. At the same time, since tantalum metal is a rare metal and its price is relatively high, it is necessary to pay attention to reasonable use during use and maintenance to extend the service life of tantalum crucibles.
There are differences between welded Tantalum crucibles (Ta)and seamless tantalum crucibles in many aspects:
1. Manufacturing process
Welded tantalum crucibles
It is usually made of tantalum plates spliced by welding process. Specific welding methods may include high-energy beam welding technologies such as argon arc welding and plasma arc welding.
During the welding process, welding parameters such as welding current, voltage, welding speed, etc. need to be strictly controlled to ensure the quality and strength of the weld. After welding, a series of post-processing processes such as grinding, polishing, and heat treatment of the weld are also required to eliminate welding stress and improve the corrosion resistance and sealing of the weld.
Seamless Tantalum crucible
It is generally manufactured by integral forging or spinning. Integral forging is to heat the Tantalum ingot to a high temperature and then forge it multiple times through forging equipment to gradually form it into the shape of a crucible. Spinning is to fix the tantalum plate on the spinning machine and gradually shape the plate into a crucible by rotating and extruding.
These processes can make the crucible produce no welds during the manufacturing process, thus ensuring the integrity and sealing of the crucible.
2. Performance characteristics
Welded tantalum crucible
Strength: Due to the presence of welds, its overall strength may be slightly lower than that of seamless tantalum crucibles. The weld may be a weak link. When subjected to greater external forces or high temperature and high pressure environments, the weld may crack and other problems.
Sealing: Although it has undergone post-processing, there may still be tiny pores or defects in the weld, resulting in poor sealing than seamless tantalum crucibles. In some applications with extremely high sealing requirements, additional sealing measures may be required.
Corrosion resistance: The chemical composition and organizational structure of the weld may be different from those of the parent material. In some corrosive environments, the weld may be more susceptible to corrosion. However, for general corrosive media, welded tantalum crucibles still have good corrosion resistance.
Seamless tantalum crucible
Strength: The overall structure has no welds and has higher strength and stability. It can withstand greater external forces and pressures and is suitable for some high-intensity working environments.
Sealing: Due to the absence of welds, seamless tantalum crucibles have excellent sealing. In special environments such as vacuum and high pressure, it can effectively prevent the leakage of gas and liquid, and ensure the smooth progress of experiments or production processes.
In terms of corrosion resistance: the overall chemical composition and organizational structure are uniform and consistent, and can show excellent corrosion resistance in various corrosive environments. Especially when dealing with highly corrosive substances, the advantages of seamless tantalum crucibles are more obvious.
3. Application fields
Welded tantalum crucibles
It is suitable for some occasions with relatively low cost requirements and not particularly high requirements for sealing and strength. For example, in some small laboratories or low-end industrial production, welded tantalum crucibles can be used for general smelting, evaporation and other operations.
In some specific processes, if the shortcomings of welded crucibles can be compensated by reasonable design and operation, welded tantalum crucibles can also be selected. For example, in some chemical reactions with relatively low temperature and pressure, the performance of welded tantalum crucibles can meet the requirements.
Seamless tantalum crucibles
It is mainly used in fields with extremely high requirements for crucible performance. For example, in the preparation of high-end electronic materials, special material processing in the aerospace field, and radioactive material processing in the nuclear industry. These fields have very strict requirements on the sealing, strength, corrosion resistance, etc. of crucibles, and seamless tantalum crucibles can better meet these needs.
In some scientific research experiments, if high-precision experiments are required or the accuracy of experimental results is very high, seamless tantalum crucibles are also the first choice. Because it can minimize the impact of the experimental results caused by problems with the crucible itself.
What are the precautions for the use of tantalum crucibles?
The following matters need to be paid attention to when using tantalum crucibles:
1. Installation and handling
Before installing the crucible, ensure that the installation position is stable and firm to avoid shaking or tilting during use. You can use a special crucible bracket or fixture to ensure that the crucible is in the correct position.
When carrying tantalum crucibles, be gentle and avoid collisions and falls. Since tantalum crucibles are relatively expensive and fragile, rough handling may cause damage to the crucible. You can use appropriate handling tools, such as crucible tongs, handling trays, etc., to ensure safe handling.
2. Preheating and cooling
Before using tantalum crucibles for heating operations, they must be fully preheated. This is because the tantalum crucible may crack due to rapid temperature changes when it is suddenly heated. The preheating temperature should be gradually increased. According to the specific usage and process requirements, it can generally be preheated at a lower temperature for a period of time, and then slowly increased to the working temperature.
The heated tantalum crucible should also be cooled slowly during the cooling process to avoid rapid cooling. The crucible can be allowed to cool slowly in a natural environment, or an appropriate cooling method can be used, such as slow cooling in a furnace. Rapid cooling may cause stress inside the crucible, thereby affecting the service life and performance of the crucible.
3. Heating source selection
Choosing a suitable heating source is very important for the use of tantalum crucibles. Generally speaking, resistance furnaces, induction furnaces, etc. can be used as heating sources. When selecting a heating source, factors such as the heating temperature range, heating speed, and temperature uniformity should be considered to ensure that the use requirements of the tantalum crucible can be met.
Avoid using a heating source with too high power to avoid local overheating and damage to the crucible. At the same time, ensure that the distance between the heating source and the crucible is appropriate to ensure that the heat is evenly transferred to the crucible.
4. Material handling
The materials put into the tantalum crucible should be dry and clean, and avoid moisture, oil or other impurities. These impurities may react with tantalum at high temperatures, damaging the crucible or affecting the quality of the materials.
Be careful when adding materials to avoid direct impact of the materials on the crucible wall to avoid damage to the crucible. Special feeding tools such as spoons and funnels can be used to slowly add materials to the crucible.
When handling corrosive materials, pay special attention to the corrosion resistance of tantalum crucibles. Although tantalum has high corrosion resistance, it may still be corroded under certain extreme conditions, such as high temperature and strong acid environments. Before use, you should understand the corrosiveness of the material and take appropriate protective measures according to the situation, such as coating the inner wall of the crucible with a protective film.
5. Daily maintenance
The tantalum crucible should be cleaned in time after use to remove residual materials and impurities. It can be cleaned with appropriate cleaning agents and tools, but avoid using overly strong chemical reagents or mechanical methods to avoid damaging the surface of the crucible.
Regularly check the appearance and internal conditions of the tantalum crucible. If cracks, deformation, corrosion, etc. are found, stop using it in time and repair or replace it.
When storing tantalum crucibles, they should be placed in a dry, ventilated and clean place to avoid contact with other metal objects to prevent chemical reactions. Special crucible boxes or packaging bags can be used for storage to protect the crucible from damage.
What is the operating temperature of tantalum crucibles?
Tantalum crucibles have a very high melting point. Generally speaking, the operating temperature of tantalum crucibles can be as high as 2000℃ or even higher.
Due to the high melting point and good heat resistance of tantalum, it can remain stable in high temperature environments. However, the actual operating temperature is also affected by many factors, such as heating method, heating time, size and shape of the crucible, and the nature of the processed materials.
In actual applications, the operating temperature of tantalum crucibles is usually determined according to specific process requirements and operating conditions to ensure its safe and reliable operation. At the same time, the service life and performance of tantalum crucibles also need to be considered. If the limit temperature it can withstand is exceeded, the tantalum crucible may deform, crack, and other problems.
How to determine whether the tantalum crucible can continue to be used?
The following aspects can be used to determine whether the tantalum crucible can continue to be used:
1. Appearance inspection
Observe whether there are obvious cracks, fissures or damage on the surface of the crucible. Even tiny cracks may gradually expand in subsequent use, affecting the strength and sealing of the crucible. If any cracks are found, use it with caution or stop using it.
Check whether the shape of the crucible is deformed. If the crucible is obviously deformed, such as twisting, denting or swelling, it may mean that its internal structure has been damaged and continued use may be a safety risk.
Check the degree of corrosion on the surface of the crucible. Although tantalum has good corrosion resistance, it may still be corroded under certain special environments. If severe signs of corrosion are found on the surface of the crucible, such as color changes, spots, pits, etc., the impact on the performance of the crucible should be evaluated and stopped if necessary.
2. Internal inspection
Check whether there are any residual materials or impurities inside the crucible. If there are residues that are difficult to remove, it may affect the quality of the material when it is used next time, or react with the newly added material at high temperature to damage the crucible.
Observe whether there are local overheating or discoloration areas inside the crucible. This may indicate that the area was subjected to abnormally high temperatures during previous use, which may affect the overall performance and service life of the crucible.
III. Performance test
Perform a tightness test. For some applications with high tightness requirements, the tightness of the crucible can be judged by adding a certain pressure of gas or liquid into the crucible and then observing whether there is leakage. If leakage is found, it should be stopped and repaired or replaced.
Perform a strength test. Under safe conditions, a certain external force can be applied to the crucible, such as tapping or squeezing, to observe whether the crucible can withstand it without cracking or deforming. However, this test should be performed with caution to avoid unnecessary damage to the crucible.
IV. Reference to usage history
Understand the number of times and time the tantalum crucible has been used. Generally speaking, the performance of the crucible will gradually decline with the increase in the number of uses and the extension of the use time. If the crucible has been used for a long time or has been through many high-temperature cycles, it should be more carefully evaluated whether it can continue to be used.
Check whether there have been problems during previous use. If there have been problems such as leakage, deformation, and cracking in the past, even after repair, you should carefully consider whether to continue to use the crucible.
When judging whether a tantalum crucible can continue to be used, the above aspects should be considered comprehensively and a decision should be made based on specific usage requirements and safety standards. If there is any doubt about the condition of the crucible, it is best to consult a professional or supplier.
Zhuohangxin Metal is a trusted tantalum crucible supplier, providing a wide range of tantalum products. Our tantalum crucibles are characterized by reliable quality, strong anti-oxidation and anti-corrosion capabilities, high temperature resistance, fast thermal conductivity, and high efficiency. We are committed to providing more favorable prices and fast delivery times for all orders, and we have no minimum order requirements for these tantalum crucibles. Please contact us and we will be happy to provide you with a quote for custom sizes.
