Uses 

Wires made with tantalum metal were used in light bulbs. (before it was 

replaced by tungsten). Now, tantalum is used in mobile phone capacitors, 

and in vacuum furnace parts. It is also used to fabricate chemical process 

equipment, nuclear reactors, aircraft, and missile parts. Tantalum is used 

in making surgical appliances, because it is completely immune to body liquids. 

Because tantalum does not irritate the body, it is used to make artificial joints

and cranial plates. Tantalum is used in making medical skull plates. Tantalum

oxide may be used to make a glass with a high index of refraction, with 

applications including use for camera lenses. Tantalum is used to make steels 

with desirable properties such as high melting point, high strength, good ductility.

Tantalum pentoxide (Ta₂O₅), one of tantalum's compounds, is a dielectric 

material and is used to make capacitors. 

This image shows some of the ways that tantalum is

used. Rocket nozzles, fasteners (nuts, screws, 

rivets, studs), manifolds, valves, skirts, cones and

expansion joints are shown.

(http://www.b-jenterprises.com/prod_tantalum_custom.htm)

The pictures on the left are tantalum heat shields,

shell and tube heat exchangers, thermocouples,

thermocouples, thermowell liners, furnace parts 

and pixtures, heating elements.

(http://www.b-jenterprises.com/prod_tantalum_custom.htm)