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

357243

Sigma-Aldrich

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

692824

Sigma-Aldrich

Tantalum, powder, 60-100 mesh, 99.9%

GF07363953

Tantalum, foil, 10mm disks, thickness 0.0125mm, 99.9%

GF03595305

Tantalum, foil, 10mm disks, thickness 0.0075mm, 99.9%

GF69110759

Tantalum, foil, 10mm disks, thickness 0.015mm, 99.9%

GF97180870

Tantalum, foil, light tested, 50x50mm, thickness 0.01mm, 99.9%

GF72426821

Tantalum, foil, 6mm disks, thickness 0.015mm, 99.9%

GF90076989

Tantalum, foil, not light tested, 50x50mm, thickness 0.0015mm, 99.9%

GF15129817

Tantalum, foil, not light tested, 50x50mm, thickness 0.01mm, 99.9%

GF42703332

Tantalum, rod, 200mm, diameter 1.5mm, annealed, 99.9%

GF00815958

Tantalum, foil, not light tested, 25x25mm, thickness 0.001mm, 99.9%

GF63410048

Tantalum, foil, light tested, 50x50mm, thickness 0.0075mm, 99.9%

GF29028405

Tantalum, rod, 100mm, diameter 10.0mm, annealed, 99.9%

GF33704142

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

GF84004231

Tantalum, tube, 100mm, outside diameter 7.0mm, inside diameter 6.7mm, wall thickness 0.15mm, as drawn, 99.9%

GF98156144

Tantalum, foil, not light tested, 25x25mm, thickness 0.0015mm, 99.9%

GF69076839

Tantalum, foil, light tested, 50x50mm, thickness 0.034mm, as rolled, 99.9%

GF02019956

Tantalum, mesh, 40x40mm, nominal aperture 0.43mm, wire diameter 0.075mm, 50x50 wires/inch, open area 72%, plain weave mesh

GF89056648

Tantalum, foil, not light tested, 100x100mm, thickness 0.003mm, 99.9%

GF28826152

Tantalum, rod, 50mm, diameter 18mm, annealed, 99.9%

GF35633785

Tantalum, foil, light tested, 25x25mm, thickness 0.015mm, 99.9%

GF66426431

Tantalum, tube, 100mm, outside diameter 12.7mm, inside diameter 11.7mm, wall thickness 0.5mm, annealed, 99.9%

GF44912190

Tantalum, tube, 1000mm, outside diameter 2.0mm, inside diameter 1.4mm, wall thickness 0.3mm, as drawn, 99.9%

GF13029634

Tantalum, rod, 500mm, diameter 1.0mm, 99.9%

GF52742099

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

GF15731186

Tantalum, foil, light tested, 25x25mm, thickness 0.01mm, 99.9%

GF92504628

Tantalum, rod, 1000mm, diameter 1.0mm, 99.9%

GF15417154

Tantalum, foil, not light tested, 25x25mm, thickness 0.003mm, 99.9%

GF37917164

Tantalum, rod, 500mm, diameter 1.5mm, annealed, 99.9%

GF99532592

Tantalum, tube, 100mm, outside diameter 8.7mm, inside diameter 8.34mm, wall thickness 0.18mm, as drawn, 99.9%