Tantalum Seamless Pipes & Tubes – ASTM B521
We are tantalum tubes supplier and tantalum pipes supplier offering seamless tubes and pipes to ASTM B521 in all five grades – unalloyed R05200 and R05400, Ta-2.5W (R05252), Ta-10W (R05255) and Ta-40Nb (R05240) – with EN 10204 3.1 certificates. Need welded tube instead? See our tantalum welded pipes, or browse all tantalum products.
What Are Tantalum Seamless Tubes?
Tantalum seamless tubes are made from a solid billet with no weld seam, so the wall has the same structure and corrosion resistance all the way round. Tantalum is one of the most corrosion-resistant metals available: a thin, self-healing oxide film makes it almost completely inert to hydrochloric, nitric, sulphuric and most other acids – which is why tantalum tubes are used where stainless steels, nickel alloys and even zirconium would fail.
Because tantalum is expensive and very ductile, tubes are usually thin-walled and specified by outside diameter × wall thickness, mainly for heat exchangers, condensers, bayonet heaters and other chemical-process equipment.
Seamless vs Welded Tantalum Tubes
- Seamless: no weld, uniform wall – preferred for high pressure, critical heat-exchanger service and small diameters.
- Welded: formed from strip and welded (with the weld annealed and tested) – available in larger diameters and longer lengths at lower cost. See tantalum welded pipes.
Both are covered by ASTM B521 and are supplied in the same grades.
How Seamless Tantalum Tubes Are Made
- Ingot or billet: electron-beam or vacuum-arc melted ingot (R05200, alloys) or powder-metallurgy billet (R05400).
- Hollow: the billet is extruded or pierced into a tube hollow.
- Cold working: pilgering and cold drawing bring the tube to final OD and wall.
- Vacuum annealing: restores ductility; tantalum is annealed in high vacuum because it absorbs oxygen, nitrogen and hydrogen when hot.
- Testing: flaring, flattening, hydrostatic or pneumatic test and eddy-current or ultrasonic inspection as per ASTM B521.
Tantalum Tube Grades (ASTM B521)
| UNS | Grade | Description | Typical use |
| R05200 | Ta (unalloyed) | Electron-beam / vacuum-arc melted | Standard grade for heat exchangers and process piping |
| R05400 | Ta (unalloyed, PM) | Powder-metallurgy grade, fine grain | General corrosion service |
| R05252 | Ta-2.5W | 2.0–3.5% tungsten | Higher strength, thinner walls, hot concentrated acids |
| R05255 | Ta-10W | 9.0–11.0% tungsten | Highest strength and high-temperature use |
| R05240 | Ta-40Nb | 35–42% niobium | Lower-cost option where conditions are less severe |
Related tantalum pages:
Tantalum Tube & Pipe Size Range
Tantalum seamless tubes are supplied in all sizes – from fine capillary tube to large heat-exchanger and process tube – in straight lengths or cut pieces. Pipe sizes (NPS with 5S / 10S wall) are available on request.
Tantalum Seamless Tube Dimensions
| Parameter | Range |
| Outside diameter | ≈ 1 mm (0.039″) to 150 mm (6″) and above on request |
| Wall thickness | ≈ 0.2 mm (0.008″) to 12.7 mm (0.500″) |
| Length | Up to 6 m standard; longer lengths and cut pieces on request |
| Pipe sizes | 1/8″ to 6″ NPS, 5S / 10S / 40S on request |
| Condition | Annealed (standard), stress-relieved or cold worked |
| Ends | Plain or bevelled |
| Tolerances | As per ASTM B521 |
Mechanical Properties of Tantalum Tubes (ASTM B521, minimum)
| Grade | Tensile strength | 0.2% yield strength | Elongation |
| R05200 / R05400 (Ta) | 207 MPa (30 ksi) | 138 MPa (20 ksi) | 25% |
| R05252 (Ta-2.5W) | 276 MPa (40 ksi) | 193 MPa (28 ksi) | 20% |
| R05255 (Ta-10W) | 481 MPa (70 ksi) | 414 MPa (60 ksi) | 15% |
| R05240 (Ta-40Nb) | 276 MPa (40 ksi) | 193 MPa (28 ksi) | 20% |
Physical properties (unalloyed Ta): density 16.6 g/cm³ · melting point 3,017 °C (5,463 °F) · modulus of elasticity ≈ 186 GPa.
Tantalum Seamless Tube Specifications
| Item | Details |
| Standard | ASTM B521 (seamless and welded tantalum and tantalum alloy tubes) |
| Grades | UNS R05200, R05400, R05252, R05255, R05240 |
| Type | Seamless (welded also available) |
| Product forms | Tubes, pipes, capillary tubes, heat-exchanger tubes, U-bends on request |
| Testing | Chemical analysis, tensile, flaring, flattening, hydrostatic / pneumatic, eddy current / UT |
| Certificates | EN 10204 3.1; 3.2 / third-party inspection on request |
Chemical Composition of Tantalum Tubes (ASTM B521, wt %)
| Element | R05200 | R05400 | R05252 (Ta-2.5W) | R05255 (Ta-10W) | R05240 (Ta-40Nb) |
| Oxygen (O), max | 0.015 | 0.030 | 0.015 | 0.015 | 0.020 |
| Nitrogen (N), max | 0.010 | 0.010 | 0.010 | 0.010 | 0.010 |
| Carbon (C), max | 0.010 | 0.010 | 0.010 | 0.010 | 0.010 |
| Hydrogen (H), max | 0.0015 | 0.0015 | 0.0015 | 0.0015 | 0.0015 |
| Niobium (Nb) | 0.10 max | 0.10 max | 0.50 max | 0.10 max | 35.0 – 42.0 |
| Tungsten (W) | 0.050 max | 0.050 max | 2.0 – 3.5 | 9.0 – 11.0 | 0.050 max |
| Tantalum (Ta) | Balance | Balance | Balance | Balance | Balance |
Applications of Tantalum Tubes
| Industry | Typical uses |
| Chemical processing | Heat-exchanger tubes, condensers, bayonet heaters, reboilers, spargers and dip tubes |
| Acid production & recovery | HCl, HBr, nitric and sulphuric acid service, acid concentrators |
| Pharmaceutical & fine chemicals | Reactor coils, process piping, high-purity lines |
| Instrumentation | Thermowells, protection sheaths and sampling tubes |
| High-temperature vacuum | Furnace heating elements, heat shields and supports (vacuum or inert gas only) |
| Semiconductor & laboratory | High-purity process and laboratory tubing |
Corrosion Resistance of Tantalum Tubes
- Resists: hydrochloric, hydrobromic, nitric, phosphoric (low fluoride) and most sulphuric acid service, chlorine, bromine, chlorides and most organic acids – at temperatures where other metals fail.
- Avoid: hydrofluoric acid and fluorides, fuming sulphuric acid (oleum / SO₃), hot strong alkalis, and contact with less noble metals in acids (galvanic coupling can cause hydrogen embrittlement).
- In air: tantalum oxidises above about 300 °C, so high-temperature use must be in vacuum or inert gas.
Finish, Testing & Documentation
Tubes are supplied annealed, pickled and clean, with plain or bevelled ends, and packed to protect the surface during export. Each lot is tested as per ASTM B521 and supplied with an EN 10204 3.1 mill test certificate; third-party inspection is available on request.
Why Buy Tantalum Tubes & Pipes from ASC LLP?
- All five ASTM B521 grades in seamless and welded form.
- All sizes: capillary to large process tube, cut lengths for prototypes and repairs.
- Matching components: tantalum fittings, flanges and plates from one source.
- Certified and traceable: EN 10204 3.1 certificates, PMI and third-party inspection on request.
- Export ready: regular shipments to the USA, Europe, the Middle East and Asia.
Get a Quote for Tantalum Tubes & Pipes
Send the grade, OD × wall (or NPS and schedule), length, quantity and seamless or welded requirement to sales@amardeepsteel.com or call 022-67439130.
Frequently Asked Questions – Tantalum Tubes
What are tantalum tubes used for?
Tantalum tubes are used mainly in chemical-process equipment – heat exchangers, condensers, bayonet heaters, spargers, thermowells and acid-service piping – where hydrochloric, nitric, sulphuric and other acids would corrode stainless steels and nickel alloys.
What is ASTM B521?
ASTM B521 is the standard specification for seamless and welded tantalum and tantalum alloy tubes. It covers grades R05200, R05400, R05252 (Ta-2.5W), R05255 (Ta-10W) and R05240 (Ta-40Nb).
Which tantalum tube grade should I choose?
R05200 is the standard unalloyed grade for most corrosion service. Ta-2.5W (R05252) gives higher strength and allows thinner walls, Ta-10W (R05255) is the strongest grade, and Ta-40Nb (R05240) is a lower-cost option for less severe conditions.
Should I use seamless or welded tantalum tube?
Seamless tube has no weld and is preferred for critical, high-pressure and small-diameter service. Welded tube is available in larger diameters and longer lengths at lower cost. Both are covered by ASTM B521.
What attacks tantalum?
Tantalum is attacked by hydrofluoric acid and fluorides, fuming sulphuric acid (oleum), hot strong alkalis, and oxidises in air above about 300 °C. Galvanic contact with less noble metals in acids can cause hydrogen embrittlement.
Are tantalum pipes available in schedule sizes?
Tantalum tubes are normally ordered by OD × wall thickness. Pipe sizes in NPS with 5S, 10S or 40S walls are available on request.
Global Reach
ASC LLP supplies tantalum tubes and other reactive and refractory metals to chemical, pharmaceutical and process-equipment customers worldwide, with prompt delivery and full documentation. Buyers in the USA, Europe, the Middle East and Asia rely on our tantalum seamless pipes for certified material and traceability.
Countries We Export To
UNITED STATES, EUROPE, UK, UAE, SAUDI ARABIA, OMAN, KUWAIT, JORDAN, QATAR, INDONESIA, MALAYSIA, BRAZIL, SPAIN, ITALY, FRANCE, GERMANY, BAHRAIN, SRI LANKA, AZERBAIJAN, AUSTRALIA, AUSTRIA, PHILIPPINES, TURKEY, RUSSIA, IRAN, IRAQ, CANADA, KOREA, JAPAN, YEMEN, FINLAND, ZIMBABWE, HUNGARY, PORTUGAL, VIETNAM, MOROCCO, THAILAND, SOUTH AFRICA, MEXICO, SINGAPORE, GREECE, KUWAIT, POLAND, NEW ZEALAND, SWEDEN, SWITZERLAND, BELGIUM, BHUTAN, BANGLADESH, TAIWAN, ROMANIA, CAMBODIA, KAZAKHSTAN, AFGHANISTAN.
