Save Money by Improving Tantalum Yields

Let’s face it, if you’re buying tantalum, it’s probably because you have no choice.  Your application likely demands one of the robust characteristics of the metal, such as the unmatched corrosion resistance, or the magnetic shielding properties, or maybe it’s the extremely high melting temperature.  Regardless of why you need it, tantalum is always expensive when compared to metals such as steel, copper or even titanium.

 

One of the simplest ways to cut tantalum expenses is to improve your yields and reduce the amount of scrap you generate.

• Why order material in typical rectangular sheet sizes and cut circles out yourself?
• Why order plates oversized so you can machine to tolerances yourself?
• Why machine parts from square bricks when you can order near finished custom shapes?

Admat specializes in custom shapes and sizes.  Whether it’s round, oval, or an octagon with a square hole, Admat can machine or cut to your requirements.  Because the scrap is kept internal to the manufacturing plant, it maintains a higher value and therefore saves you money.

Tight tolerances are nothing new to Admat.  We will review your requirements and quote you a price on a product that we stand behind.  

Speak with our sales department today and find out how Admat can improve your tantalum yields.

Hafnium - It's Elemental

Hafnium is element 72 on the periodic table.  It is a tetravalent transition metal colored silver gray and is often found in zirconium, its sister element.  Discovered in 1923 in Copenhagen, it was named after the city’s Latin name, Hafnia.

Hafnium is used in many industries and hi-tech applications.  Some of these include: coatings of nuclear materials in power plants, alloying agents in superalloys, coatings on cutting tools and optics, and in the production of semiconductors.  Current demand for Hafnium is just 75 to 80 tons a year.  Primary sources for Hf raw materials come from Australia, South America, and China.  Supply of the material is estimated at 67 to 72 tons per year.  A portion of the superalloy demand is fulfilled with scrap and recycled material.

The largest market for hafnium is the superalloy industry.  It is estimated that about 55% of demand comes from producers of alloys which are most commonly used in turbine blades for either aircraft engines or land based turbines in power plants.  Because engineers are always seeking new space age materials to improve performance, hafnium is expected to see significant growth in this industry.  The metal has been shown to allow aircraft engines to run hotter while being safer and using less fuel.  Additionally alloys such as C-103*, a Nb-Hf-Ti alloy is commonly used to make rocket nozzles as it stands up to high temperatures and corrosive chemicals.

Another 15% of Hf demand comes from nuclear power plants which use Hf to coat their nuclear fuel.  Because the material is able to absorb neutrons, it is ideal for such applications.  There are a significant number of nuclear power plants throughout the world, and that number is ever increasing.  Hf demand will be strong for this market as the power plants will utilize the material in both the nuclear reactor and the power generating turbine blades used to create electricity.  Constant maintenance of these plants will assure the demand for years to come.

There are smaller applications as well.  Roughly 8% of demand is for hafnium welding tips for use with plasma torches.  Because Hf sheds electrons and can create an arc, it is an ideal material to use in place of tungsten.  

Hf Sputtering Target from Admat Inc.

Together, demand for hafnium chloride (HfCl4), hafnium oxide (HfO2) and pure hafnium for chemical vapor deposition (CVD) and physical vapor deposition (PVD) totals about 22% of the material demand.  This accounts for a combination of end uses which include hard and protective coatings on cutting tools and optics, blue lasers for use in DVD players, and high-k dielectrics, where Hf is ideal to improve the miniaturization and reliability of electronic components.

For most electronic applications hafnium with .2 to .5 percent zirconium is used effectively.  For select applications customers may require hafnium with less than .1 percent zirconium content.  This grade is priced at a premium because of the difficulty and high cost to produce such high purity Hf.

If your business is seeking a reliable partner for the supply of high purity Hf target plates and discs, contact Admat Inc. (www.admatinc.com), a stocking supplier of electronic grade hafnium targets.

*C-103 is a trademark of Allegheny Technologies Inc.

Why You Should Not Buy Tantalum from an Inexperienced Reseller

When you call your local metal supplier and ask for a coil of tantalum sheet or a plate of niobium, do they ask you about your application?  Do they ask you what type of machining you will be performing or if you’re drawing parts from this material?  These are examples of important questions to ask. 

If you’re a new customer to Admat, we always ask these questions.  Not to be nosy or to take up your time.  But, because tantalum and niobium are unique metals which can be manufactured in multiple fashions.  After all tantalum and niobium are expensive and we don’t want to sell you something that will not work in your application.  For example, a customer using material for stamped parts will want softer metal that is able to be drawn without the surface becoming grainy or tearing, while someone using the material for shielding may want the material stiffer.  Some customers use the material for semiconductors and they want exceptional purity of 99.999% pure while others are lining a chemical tank and 98% pure is less expensive and ideal for their job. 

We can supply material in multiple tempers, with  “as rolled” surfaces, or conditioned surfaces.  Admat’s extensive experience with these metals can help you decipher what your material requirements should be, in most cases, just by asking a few questions.  Still it is always a good idea to get a basic understanding of the typical standards yourself.

There are so many different specifications of tantalum that one can easily become confused.  It’s important to be educated regarding specifications and grades of tantalum and how they apply to the materials.

ASTM specifications for tantalum and niobium are by far the most commonly used today.  These specifications clearly lay out the chemical, mechanical, and physical requirements of the material.  Because different diameters, thicknesses or widths may impact the mechanical properties or manufacturing tolerances, ASTM has charts that include a wide variety of sizes.   If your material is outside the range on the charts, that particular property will not apply.  In such a case it is best to speak with Admat to determine what requirements are possible.

As for chemistry, there are multiple alloys of tantalum and niobium, each with unique requirements.  ASTM utilizes the UNS (Unified Numbering System) to differentiate.  We have included a chart in this post which lists some of the more common metals and alloys.

In addition to ASTM specifications and which particular alloy, you must also consider the temper of the material.  In other words, do you want the manufacturer to vacuum heat treat the material to relieve the stresses and reform the crystal structure of the material.  Annealed material is most commonly ordered if you plan on forming the material in such a method as stamping, drawing or spinning, or if you are going to use the material as a sputtering target.  However most commonly rods or bars are ordered as unannealed unless you plan on working (not machining) the material further. This would apply mostly to wire drawing. 

The second most common series of specifications are managed by SAE International.  These specifications most commonly apply to tantalum and niobium for aerospace applications.  SAE specifications start with AMS and are very similar to the ASTM standards.

Many businesses have their own specifications for refractory metals.  Admat would be happy to review your existing specs or help your engineers develop one to fit your process.  Furthermore Admat has internal specifications for various end uses.  For example if you are using the material to makes springs for drinking water chlorinators, Admat has a proprietary internal specification just for that material and end use.

Even if your business does not have your own standard, Admat will ensure you get the right material for the job.

Call our experts today and let them help you determine the right specification for your process.

The Value of Tantalum Experience

Tantalum is expensive. For most users of Tantalum, it is likely the most expensive material they buy. It’s for that reason that so many companies source their material from smaller mills overseas to avoid paying the higher prices charged by the big American mills. But with so many companies selling tantalum, how can you tell a reputable company from a fly by night re-seller? Is there a way to ensure they are producing product using the best metallurgy practices? And how can you be sure these companies will stand behind their products when something goes awry? To be perfectly honest, you can’t really be sure of these things without performing significant due diligence such as costly plant audits, independent third party testing, detailed engineering studies and utilizing years of experience. That’s what Admat brings to the table. 

Admat’s management team has 50 years of tantalum experience, more than anyone else in the industry.  What makes that knowledge so valuable is that it's a blend of domestic sales and manufacturing know-how combined with years of overseas production and engineering expertise. This gives us the unique ability to understand the culture of both our customers and our factories. 

We understand your application and what material properties are important to you. Our engineers can adapt production techniques to produce product that is engineered specifically for your application. Whether it is high purity plates with fine grain for semiconductor production, grain stabilized rods for vacuum furnace parts, or isotropic strip for stamped parts, Admat has the experience and know how to help your business.

We have multiple contracted production plants throughout Asia. Each of these plants has undergone multiple on site audits and their range of products have undergone studies which include testing at independent labs. Each plant’s production process is unique and therefore each has specific strengths and weakness. For example, some plants melt large diameter ingots that are rolled down directly to finished product, where others use small diameter ingots which require upset forging prior to rolling. 

Grain flow photos showing tantalum rod manufactured using different initial ingot sizes and reduction methods.

This photo shows grain flow in tantalum rods. Although on the outside, both rods would look identical to anyone, the metallurgy on the inside is completely different. Depending on your application, this could completely change how the material performs. Matching your unique material requirements with the right production method is an example of the value that Admat's experience provides our customers.

Since 1997, Admat’s customers have come to expect a high level of quality and service. It is our goal to provide your company with the highest quality products available and to do so at a price that makes your business more competitive in the marketplace.

Call us today and let us show you how Admat can strengthen your raw materials position.

Admat Inc. Adds Fabricated and Machined Refractory Metal Parts to Product List

Admat Incorporated of Norristown, PA has further enhanced their product portfolio to include machined and fabricated parts.  Since 1997, Admat has been supplying Tantalum powders and mill products to a variety of industries.

Over the years, Admat has become one of the largest sources of refractory metals in the US.  Now they have partnered with a number of skilled and specialized fabricators to offer custom machined parts.

Admat’s management team has the most experience in development, engineering, sales and services in the refractory metal industry.  Through the years their team has developed powders for specialty alloys and 3D printing, precision wire products for medical implants, penetrators for missile systems, explosively bonded metals for corrosion prevention, and cutting edge products for semiconductor production, just to name a few.

Eric von Spreckelsen, Admat’s Director of Sales and Operations stated, “All this experience has given Admat a portfolio that is unmatched.  No matter what you require, a tube, a rod, a plate or a complex fabricated part, we are the best place to call.”  Metals include tantalum, niobium, tungsten, molybdenum and titanium.  Their technical know-how allows them to precisely and efficiently manage the raw material production and the subsequent fabrication operations to provide customers the highest quality product in the market today at very competitive prices.

Allen Chang is Admat’s Engineering Manager.   Over the past three years he has developed systems and procedures to ensure 100% compliance to specification.  Allen directly oversees all fabrication and machining operations and is an asset to the machined parts business at Admat.

Whether your business needs tantalum flanges, molybdenum crucibles, electron beam welded assemblies, threaded rods, or tungsten machined parts, Admat should be your first call.

Admat Inc. and Nisomet GmbH Partner for Sales of Tantalum and Niobium in Germany and Switzerland

Admat Inc., Norristown, PA USA announced today a partnership with Nisomet GmbH of Switzerland to market their mill products in Germany and Switzerland.   Admat is a leading supplier of tantalum and niobium metals and alloys in various mill forms and powder.  Nisomet is a provider of nickel based alloys and specialty metals including titanium.“Admat is well known for our superior metal products and an industry leading level of customer service in the United States.

For our first expansion into European markets, it was important for us to find the right partner who has the same commitments, reputation and expertise.  We strongly believe we have found those qualities in Nisomet and we welcome them as our partner,” said Eric von Spreckelsen, Director of Sales at Admat.

“Nisomet has nearly 25 years of experience in the field of nickel based and titanium metals and alloys.  We provide our customers a wide selection of metals and further support those products through our engineering services.  Recently we expanded our core business by aggressively developing new markets for tantalum and are very happy to have a strong partner like Admat supporting us with their excellent service and product qualities”,  said Matthias Treib, Director of Sales at Nisomet GmbH.

Admat Introduces New 300mm Tantalum Coilsets

Admat Inc, a leading supplier of tantalum and niobium mill products, announced today the introduction of high purity 300mm tantalum coilsets to their semiconductor product line.  These coilsets will be used in select physical vapor deposition (PVD) chambers and are available in a wide range of purities, the most common being 99.99% and 99.995% pure tantalum.
Admat will offer these parts to sputtering target fabricators who can perform final surface treatments and pair them with the required sputtering targets for end users.

The company’s Sales Director, Eric von Spreckelsen stated, “I am very pleased to finally introduce this product to our thin films portfolio.  These coilsets have undergone a lengthy development process with extensive testing, both internally and in the field.  Our customers will be very pleased with both the performance and value of this product”.

With each coilset, Admat will provide GDMS chemistry certifications and full CMM reports are available upon request.  Select coilsets will be included in their inventory stocking program.