The element tantalum was discovered in the year 1802 by the Swedish chemist A.K. Ekeberg. He called the newly found material tantalum, because the behavior of its oxide, which is not easily dissoluble in acid, reminded him of the Pillars of Tantalus.

In nature tantalum is always found together with niobium, a material with very similar characteristics.
Semifinished products made of tantalum and tantalum alloys (e.g. Ta2.5W) are manufactured by means of sintering as well as melting.

PLANSEE has a long-standing experience in the production of semifinished products as well as readymade components made of tantalum.