Biological performance of tantalum.

Biological performance of tantalum.

Clinical materials (1993-12-09)

J Black

ABSTRACT

A detailed literature search was carried out to define the current knowledge about the biological performance of tantalum. The pure metal appears, to a great degree, to be inert both in vivo and in vitro. Both the pure metal and its principle oxide possess low solubility and toxicity; however, halide compounds are more biologically active. Local host response is benign, characterized by vital encapsulation in soft tissue and frequent osteointegration, reminiscent of titanium, in hard tissue. Tantalum has been in clinical use since before 1940 and has found a wide range of diagnostic and implant applications, with apparently overall excellent results. In some applications, such as for radiographic bone markers and cranial closure, tantalum may well be the current material of choice. In summary, metallic tantalum is a promising biomaterial whose applications have been limited by technical rather than biological performance considerations.

MATERIALS

Product Number

Brand

Product Description

262846

Sigma-Aldrich

Tantalum, powder, −325 mesh, 99.9% trace metals basis

357243

Sigma-Aldrich

Tantalum, foil, thickness 0.05 mm, ≥99.9% trace metals basis

692824

Sigma-Aldrich

Tantalum, powder, 60-100 mesh, 99.9%

GF18031733

Tantalum, wire reel, 5m, diameter 0.5mm, annealed, 99.9%

GF25044094

Tantalum, foil, 0.2m coil, thickness 0.1mm, coil width .62mm, as rolled, 99.9%

GF37993528

Tantalum, foil, 25x25mm, thickness 0.5mm, annealed, 99.9%

GF07210347

Tantalum, foil, 10m coil, thickness 0.025mm, coil width 0.75mm, annealed, 99.9%

GF13139164

Tantalum, foil, 50x50mm, thickness 4.0mm, annealed, 99.9%

GF48780142

Tantalum, foil, 100x100mm, thickness 0.5mm, annealed, 99.9%

GF10417698

Tantalum, foil, 10m coil, thickness 0.03mm, coil width 0.75mm, annealed, 99.9%

GF50036510

Tantalum, foil, 50x50mm, thickness 5.0mm, annealed, 99.9%

GF36069598

Tantalum, foil, 100x100mm, thickness 0.75mm, annealed, 99.9%

GF53229269

Tantalum, foil, 10m coil, thickness 0.04mm, coil width .65mm, as rolled, 99.9%

GF14474976

Tantalum, foil, 0.1m coil, thickness 0.1mm, coil width .62mm, as rolled, 99.9%

GF20898625

Tantalum, foil, 0.5m coil, thickness 0.01mm, 99.9%

GF10710593

Tantalum, foil, 25x25mm, thickness 2.0mm, annealed, 99.9%

GF38760026

Tantalum, foil, 0.5m coil, thickness 0.015mm, 99.9%

GF15353579

Tantalum, foil, 0.5m coil, thickness 0.025mm, coil width 0.75mm, annealed, 99.9%

GF63886270

Tantalum, foil, 50x50mm, thickness 0.15mm, annealed, 99.9%

GF42214788

Tantalum, foil, 0.2m coil, thickness 0.009mm, 99.9%

GF52742099

Tantalum, foil, light tested, 100x100mm, thickness 0.034mm, as rolled, 99.9%

GF45711806

Tantalum, tube, 1000mm, outside diameter 2.1mm, inside diameter 1.6mm, wall thickness 0.25mm, as drawn, 99.9%

GF22521259

Tantalum, wire reel, 5m, diameter 1.0mm, annealed, 99.9%

GF64866202

Tantalum, foil, not light tested, 82x100mm, thickness 0.006mm, 99.9%

GF33704142

Tantalum, foil, not light tested, 100x100mm, thickness 0.009mm, 99.9%

GF09928536

Tantalum, tube, 50mm, outside diameter 10.0mm, inside diameter 8.4mm, wall thickness 0.8mm, as drawn, 99.9%

GF11923589

Tantalum, foil, light tested, 25x25mm, thickness 0.006mm, 99.9%

GF27305603

Tantalum, wire reel, 2m, diameter 1.0mm, annealed, 99.9%

GF66038306

Tantalum, wire reel, 5m, diameter 0.05mm, annealed, 99.9%

GF30438660

Tantalum, wire reel, 50m, diameter 0.30mm, annealed, 99.9%