Niobium has a very low capture cross section for thermal neutrons and is therefore of considerable use in the nuclear industry. Tantalum can be used to make evaporator, as well as electrode, rectifier and electrolytic capacitor of electron tube. Medically, it is used to make thin slices or threads to repair damaged tissue. Tantalum niobium ore is the general name of the mineral containing tantalum and niobium. Used for preparing tantalum oxide and oxidation.
C-103 is a niobium alloy that contains 89 percent niobium, 10 percent hafnium and 1 percent titanium, and can be used in liquid rocket thruster nojets, such as the main engine of the Apollo lunar module. Apollo service module USES another niobium alloy. Since niobium begins to oxidized above 400°C, a protective coating must be applied to prevent it from becoming brittle.
Niobium filaments can be used to repair damage to the skull, niobium filaments can be used to suture nerves and tendons, niobium strips can replace broken bones and joints, niobium yarns or netting made from niobium filaments can be used to compensate for muscle tissue. Tantalum has a wide range of applications due to its characteristics. Tantalum can be used to replace stainless steel in the production of various kinds of inorganic acids. In addition, in chemical, electronic, electrical and other industries, tantalum can replace the task previously required by the precious metal platinum, so that the cost is greatly reduced.
Tantalum is made into capacitors for use in military equipment. The United States has an unusually developed military industry and is the world's largest arms exporter. Half of the world's tantalum production is used to make tantalum capacitors, and the U.S. department of defense logistics is the largest owner of tantalum, at one point buying up one-third of the world's tantalum powder.
