H.C. Starck Features Ultra76 Tantalum Alloy for Chemical Process Industries at NACE Corrosion 2011

NEWTON, Mass., March 9, 2011 /PRNewswire/ -- H.C. Starck Inc., Fabricated Products Group, a global supplier of refractory materials and fabricated products will exhibit at the upcoming NACE CORROSION 2011 in Houston, TX, March 14-17 featuring its Ultra 76 Tantalum alloy.

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For years, tantalum and tantalum alloys have been extensively used in electronic, chemical processing, and biomedical industries. Process industries involving aggressive, hazardous chemicals require corrosion resistant tantalum alloys. These alloys provide cost-effective, long service life solutions for critical components in severe corrosive environments. The outstanding corrosion resistance of tantalum and tantalum alloys is attributed to a very thin, protective tantalum pentoxide (Ta2O5) film that forms when the metal is exposed to oxidizing conditions. Only when the oxide film is penetrated by a chemical reagent does corrosive attack occur on the underlying metal. Industrial experience has repeatedly shown that when this attack occurs, hydrogen embrittlement rather than metal loss from corrosion is the predominant failure mechanism for tantalum materials.  

H.C. Starck has developed a new tantalum alloy with improved corrosion and hydrogen embrittlement resistance. Ultra76 has significantly lower corrosion and hydrogen embrittlement rates than NRC®76 with comparable mechanical properties. Ultra76 tantalum exhibits hydrogen embrittlement rates 10x to 100x lower than those of NRC®76, with or without platinum spots in HCl environments outside currently acceptable ranges of concentration and temperature. Additionally, in aggressive H2SO4 solutions at temperatures 30 degrees C to 50 degrees C above currently acceptable ranges, Ultra76 had hydrogen embrittlement rates that were 5x to 10x lower than NRC®76 also with or without platinum spots.

Visit Booth 1202 and meet our expert team to discuss the benefits of Ultra 76 for critical corrosion resistant applications. Download a free brochure "Ultra 76 Tantalum for Corrosive Resistant Applications" at http://www.hcstarck.com/en/home/materials__solutions.html?pid=tantalum_cpi_products or email [email protected] for more information.

About H.C. Starck

The H.C. Starck Group is a leading global supplier of refractory metals, technical ceramics, and serves growing industries such as the electronics, chemicals, automotive, medical technology, aerospace, energy technology, and environmental technology industries, as well as mechanical engineering and tool manufacturers. H.C. Starck has manufacturing facilities strategically located in Europe, America, and Asia, with close to 3,000 employees worldwide.

SOURCE H.C. Starck Inc.