8103 99 — Тантал и изделия из него, включая отходы и лом: прочие: прочие

8103 Tantalum and articles thereof, including waste and scrap: 8103 20 – unwrought tantalum, including rods obtained simply by sintering; powders 8103 30 – waste and scrap 8103 90 – other

Tantalum is mainly isolated from ores containing tantalite and niobite (columbit) (heading 2615), by reducing the oxide or by electrolysis of the melt of potassium tantalum fluoride. Tantalum can be prepared in compact form or as a sintering powder, like tungsten or molybdenum. Tantalum powder is black. In other forms it is white if polished and bluish-steel if not polished. In its pure form, it is very malleable and plastic.

Unusually resistant to corrosion, including exposure to most acids. Tantalum is used to produce carbide and (in the form of rotantal fers, see Chapter 72) to produce alloy steels. It is also used for the production of nets and anodes for electron lamps, current rectifiers, crucibles, heat exchangers and other chemical equipment, in spinning machines for extrusion of chemical fibers, for dental and surgical instruments. In addition, it is also used for fixing bones, etc. in surgery and in the production of gas absorbers (to remove the last traces of gas in the production of radio lamps). Tantalum alloys, which may be classified in this heading in accordance with note 5 to section XV, include tantalum-tungsten alloys with a high tantalum content, used, for example, in the manufacture of electronic lamps. This heading covers tantalum in all its forms: powder, blocks, waste and scrap; rods, wires, threads; sheets, strips or ribbons, foil; profiles; pipes and other articles (e.g. springs and wire cloth) not specified elsewhere specifically. The classification of carbie da tantalum is similar to that of tungsten carbide (see the HS Explanatory Note to heading 8101).