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

262897

Sigma-Aldrich

Tantalum, foil, thickness 0.25 mm, ≥99.9% trace metals basis

262889

Sigma-Aldrich

Tantalum, foil, thickness 1.0 mm, ≥99.9% trace metals basis

262862

Sigma-Aldrich

Tantalum, wire, diam. 1.0 mm, ≥99.9% trace metals basis

357251

Sigma-Aldrich

Tantalum, foil, thickness 0.5 mm, ≥99.9% trace metals basis

545007

Sigma-Aldrich

Tantalum, powder, 99.99% trace metals basis

GF75067702

Tantalum, foil, 150x150mm, thickness 0.15mm, annealed, flattened, 99.9%

262919

Sigma-Aldrich

Tantalum, foil, thickness 0.025 mm, ≥99.9% trace metals basis

GF65395031

Tantalum, tube, 100mm, outside diameter 2.0mm, inside diameter 1mm, wall thickness 0.5mm, as drawn, 99.9%

GF60826417

Tantalum, foil, 10mm disks, thickness 0.02mm, 99.9%

GF11084138

Tantalum, foil, 10mm disks, thickness 0.01mm, 99.9%

GF44780823

Tantalum, foil, not light tested, 50x50mm, thickness 0.004mm, 99.9%

GF32507715

Tantalum, foil, not light tested, 50x50mm, thickness 0.006mm, 99.9%

GF25032305

Tantalum, foil, light tested, 25x25mm, thickness 0.03mm, as rolled, 99.9%

GF15485070

Tantalum, foil, 50mm disks, thickness 0.0125mm, 99.9%

GF71816889

Tantalum, mesh, 100x100mm, nominal aperture 0.43mm, wire diameter 0.075mm, 50x50 wires/inch, open area 72%, plain weave mesh

GF15703332

Tantalum, foil, 8mm disks, thickness 0.75mm, annealed, 99.9%

GF59915818

Tantalum, foil, not light tested, 25x25mm, thickness 0.002mm, 99.9%

GF70561616

Tantalum, foil, not light tested, 100x100mm, thickness 0.004mm, 99.9%

GF43035780

Tantalum, foil, 50mm disks, thickness 0.015mm, 99.9%

GF71165505

Tantalum, foil, light tested, 150x150mm, thickness 0.05mm, annealed, 99.9%

GF54223286

Tantalum, foil, light tested, 50x50mm, thickness 0.015mm, 99.9%

GF95688185

Tantalum, foil, light tested, 150x300mm, thickness 0.05mm, annealed, 99.9%

GF68255488

Tantalum, foil, light tested, 25x25mm, thickness 0.025mm, as rolled, 99.9%

GF51294168

Tantalum, tube, 1000mm, outside diameter 0.51mm, inside diameter 0.21mm, wall thickness 0.15mm, as drawn, 99.9%

GF41727832

Tantalum, foil, light tested, 25x25mm, thickness 0.075mm, annealed, 99.9%

GF31935988

Tantalum, foil, light tested, 50x50mm, thickness 0.025mm, as rolled, 99.9%

GF75319274

Tantalum, foil, not light tested, 50x50mm, thickness 0.0025mm, 99.9%

GF03257625

Tantalum, foil, light tested, 25x25mm, thickness 0.009mm, 99.9%

GF19351289

Tantalum, foil, not light tested, 25x25mm, thickness 0.005mm, 99.9%

GF43143072

Tantalum, foil, light tested, 50x50mm, thickness 0.02mm, 99.9%