TANTALUM-THE NEW METAL.

Marlborough Express, Volume XLI, Issue 96, 25 April 1907, Page 7

TANTALUM-THE NEW METAL.

Now comes Australia to the front with the find of what may very properly be called a new metal —tantalum. "While tantalum has been found at Wodgina- for a number of years, yet it was not until quite recently that its practical utility for any specific purpose was known. This new metal possesses many of the same qualities as does platinum; it is not acted upon by acids. In ductility it is much, like irpn, but is much heavier. Hammering renders it ■exceedingly hard, and in alloy with sttel it develops startling metallurgical ■properties.

Experiments at the Krnpp shipyards, in Essen, show that as an armotfr piercing point for projectiles of great velocity tantalum is destined to revolutionise modern marine war- !? r6' -,a? d will equalise the attack to the defence, for the resistance of armour plate heavily alloyed with it is increased 25 per cent. Scientists who have examined tantalum under the direction of a German syndicate which is trying to control the output insist that it will replace the diamond for use as drills. It is the only metal so far discovered, except platinum, which is too costly to have a place commercially among the metals, which can be used in place of the bamboo filament in the electric vacuum bulb.—Harper's Weekly.