Tantalum based alloy that is resistant to aqueous corrosion

Abstract

A tantalum or tantalum alloy which contains pure or substantially pure tantalum and at least one metal element selected from the group consisting of Ru, Rh, Pd, Os, Ir, Pt, Mo, W and Re to form a tantalum alloy that is resistant to aqueous corrosion. The invention also relates to the process of preparing the tantalum alloy.

1 . A tantalum alloy which comprises pure or substantially pure tantalum or a tantalum alloy and at least one metal element selected from the group consisting of Ru, Rh, Pd, Os, Ir, Pt, Mo, W and Re to form a tantalum alloy that is resistant to aqueous corrosion. 
     
     
         2 . The tantalum alloy as claimed in  claim 1 , wherein the tantalum alloy is Ta-3W. 
     
     
         3 . The tantalum alloy as claimed in  claim 2 , wherein the metal element is platinum. 
     
     
         4 . The tantalum alloy as claimed in  claim 2 , wherein the metal element is ruthenium or rhodium or palladium or osmium or iridium. 
     
     
         5 . The tantalum alloy as claimed in  claim 2 , wherein the metal element is molybdenum or rhenium. 
     
     
         6 . The tantalum alloy as claimed in  claim 2 , wherein the metal element is present in an amount of less than 10,000 ppm in the alloy. 
     
     
         7 . The tantalum alloy as claimed in  claim 2 , wherein the metal element is present in an amount of less than 5,000 ppm in the alloy. 
     
     
         8 . The tantalum alloy as claimed in  claim 2 , wherein the metal element is present in an amount of less 2,000 ppm in the alloy. 
     
     
         9 . The tantalum alloy as claimed in  claim 3 , wherein the metal element is present in an amount of less 2,000 ppm in the alloy. 
     
     
         10 . The tantalum alloy as claimed in  claim 4 , wherein the metal element is present in an amount of less 2,000 ppm in the alloy. 
     
     
         11 . The tantalum alloy as claimed in  claim 4 , wherein the metal element is present in an amount of less 2,000 ppm in the alloy. 
     
     
         12 . A process to produce the tantalum alloy as claimed in  claim 1  which is resistant to aqueous corrosion, which comprises microalloying pure or substantially pure tantalum and at least one metal element selected from the group consisting of Ru, Rh, Pd, Os, Ir, Pt, Mo, W and Re. 
     
     
         13 . The process as claimed in  claim 12 , wherein the tantalum alloy is Ta-3 W. 
     
     
         14 . The process as claimed in  claim 12 , wherein the metal element is platinum. 
     
     
         15 . The process as claimed in  claim 12 , wherein the metal element is ruthenium or rhodium or palladium or osmium or iridium. 
     
     
         16 . The process as claimed in  claim 12 , wherein the metal element is molybdenum or rhenium. 
     
     
         17 . The process as claimed in  claim 12 , wherein the metal element is present in an amount of less than 10,000 ppm in the alloy. 
     
     
         18 . The process as claimed in  claim 12 , wherein the metal element is present in an amount of less than 5,000 ppm in the alloy. 
     
     
         19 . The process as claimed in  claim 12 , wherein the metal element is present in an amount of less 2,000 ppm in the alloy. 
     
     
         20 . The process as claimed in  claim 13 , wherein the metal element is present in an amount of less 2,000 ppm in the alloy. 
     
     
         21 . The process as claimed in clam  13 , wherein the metal element is present in an amount of at least 150 ppm in the alloy 
     
     
         22 . The process as claimed in clam  12 , wherein the alloy is made using laser additive manufacturing (LAM), vacuum arc remelting (VAR), electron beam melting (EBM), or plasma arc melting (PAM).