Tantalum Welded Pipes & Tubes – ASTM B521
We supply tantalum welded pipes and welded tantalum tubes to ASTM B521 in all five grades – R05200, R05400, Ta-2.5W (R05252), Ta-10W (R05255) and Ta-40Nb (R05240) – with EN 10204 3.1 certificates. For seamless tube, see our tantalum seamless pipes & tubes, or browse all tantalum products.
What Are Tantalum Welded Tubes?
Under ASTM B521, tantalum welded tube is made from flat-rolled tantalum strip that is formed into a tube and joined by an automatic fusion-welding process – TIG (GTAW), plasma or laser – without filler metal and under full inert-gas shielding, because hot tantalum absorbs oxygen, nitrogen and hydrogen from air. The tube is then vacuum annealed and tested. A properly made weld has the same corrosion resistance as the base metal.
Why Choose Welded Tantalum Tube?
- Larger diameters and longer lengths: welded tube is formed from strip, so long, thin-walled heat-exchanger tubes and larger pipe sizes are practical.
- Lower cost: thin, uniform walls use less tantalum than seamless tube of the same size – important for an expensive metal.
- Uniform wall thickness: walls rolled from strip are very consistent, which helps heat transfer.
- Same corrosion resistance: almost completely inert to hydrochloric, nitric and sulphuric acids, chlorine and bromine; attacked only by hydrofluoric acid, oleum and hot strong alkalis.
Types of Welded Tantalum Tube
- As-welded and annealed: the standard form for heat-exchanger and process tube.
- Welded and drawn: cold drawn after welding to work the weld bead, refine the weld structure and give closer tolerances.
- Large-diameter rolled and welded pipe: rolled from tantalum sheet or plate and welded for larger process lines and fabricated equipment.
Note: processes used for steel pipe – ERW, SAW or spiral welding – are not used for tantalum, because tantalum must be welded in an inert atmosphere.
TIG (GTAW) Welded Tantalum Tube
Laser & Plasma Welded Tantalum Tube
Welded & Drawn Tantalum Tube
Large-Diameter Rolled & Welded Tantalum Pipe
Tantalum Welded vs Seamless Tubes
| Welded tube | Seamless tube | |
| Made from | Rolled strip, fusion welded (no filler) | Extruded / pierced billet, cold drawn |
| Size range | Larger diameters, long lengths, thin walls | Small to medium diameters, heavier walls |
| Cost | Lower | Higher |
| Best for | Heat exchangers, condensers, large process lines | Small-bore, high-pressure and critical service |
| Standard | ASTM B521 | ASTM B521 |
Need seamless? See tantalum seamless pipes & tubes.
Tantalum Welded Tube Size Range
| Parameter | Range |
| Outside diameter | ≈ 6 mm (1/4″) to 150 mm (6″); larger rolled & welded pipe on request |
| Wall thickness | ≈ 0.3 mm to 3 mm (heavier on request) |
| Length | Up to 6 m standard; longer heat-exchanger lengths on request |
| Pipe sizes | NPS with 5S / 10S walls on request |
| Condition | Annealed, or welded & drawn |
| Tolerances | As per ASTM B521 |
Mechanical Properties of Tantalum Welded 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% |
Tantalum Welded Tube Specifications
| Item | Details |
| Tube standard | ASTM B521 (seamless and welded tantalum and tantalum alloy tubes) |
| Strip / sheet | ASTM B708 (tantalum and tantalum alloy plate, sheet and strip) |
| Grades | UNS R05200, R05400, R05252, R05255, R05240 |
| Welding | Automatic fusion welding (TIG, plasma or laser) in inert gas, no filler metal |
| Tests | Tensile, flare, reverse flattening; hydrostatic, pneumatic, helium leak or ultrasonic testing |
| Certificates | EN 10204 3.1; 3.2 / third-party inspection on request |
Chemical Composition of Tantalum Welded 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 Welded Pipes
| Industry | Typical uses |
| Chemical processing | Shell-and-tube heat exchangers, condensers, reboilers and bayonet heaters |
| Acid production & recovery | HCl, HBr, nitric and sulphuric acid lines and coolers |
| Pharmaceutical & fine chemicals | Reactor coils, transfer lines and high-purity piping |
| Equipment fabrication | Large-diameter process pipe, nozzles and liners |
Get a Quote for Tantalum Welded Pipes
Send the grade, OD × wall (or NPS and schedule), length and quantity to sales@amardeepsteel.com or call 022-67439130. We also supply matching tantalum fittings, flanges and plates.
Frequently Asked Questions – Tantalum Welded Pipes
How are tantalum welded tubes made?
Tantalum welded tube is made from flat-rolled strip, formed into a tube and joined by automatic fusion welding (TIG, plasma or laser) in inert gas with no filler metal, then vacuum annealed and tested as per ASTM B521.
Is welded tantalum tube as corrosion resistant as seamless?
Yes. When the weld is made under full inert-gas shielding and the tube is properly annealed, the weld has the same corrosion resistance as the base metal.
Which standard covers tantalum welded pipes?
ASTM B521 covers both seamless and welded tantalum and tantalum alloy tubes in grades R05200, R05400, R05252, R05255 and R05240. The strip used to make them is covered by ASTM B708.
When should I choose welded instead of seamless tantalum tube?
Choose welded tube for larger diameters, long thin-walled heat-exchanger tubes and lower cost. Choose seamless tube for small-bore, high-pressure or critical service.
Are ERW or SAW tantalum pipes available?
No. ERW, SAW and spiral welding are steel-pipe processes. Tantalum must be fusion welded (TIG, plasma or laser) in an inert atmosphere to avoid contamination and embrittlement.
Global Reach
ASC LLP supplies tantalum welded pipes and other reactive 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 welded tubes 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.
