One of the main uses of tantalum is in the production of electronic components. An oxide layer which forms on the surface of tantalum can act as an insulating (dielectric) layer. Because tantalum can be used to coat other metals with a very thin layer, a high capacitance can be achieved in a small volume: Tantalum Oxide Capacitor (1967).
Tantalum causes no immune response in mammals, so has found wide use in the making of surgical implants. It can replace bone (e.g. Open cell tantalum structures for cancellous bone implants and cell and tissue receptors (1993)), and it can be used in cochlear implants (Cochlear electrode array employing tantalum metal (1998)).
Tantalum is very resistant to corrosion and so is used in equipment for handling corrosive materials: Tantalum alloy (1960).
It has also found uses as electrodes for discharge lamps (High-Pressure Discharge-Lamp With Tantalum Electrodes (1958)), AC/DC rectifiers (Improvements in or relating to rectifiers (1925)), and in special glass (Photochromic Glass Containing Tantalum Oxide For Optical Fiber Fabrication (1971)) for fibre optics.
Tantalum alloys can be extremely strong and have been used for turbine blades, and rocket nozzles:Tantalum base alloys (1964).
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All patent information has been obtained from Espacenet (European Patent Office).