Tantalum; unwrought, including bars and rods obtained simply by sintering, powders

HS code 810320 covers the trade of unwrought tantalum, including bars and rods obtained simply by sintering, as well as tantalum powders. Tantalum is a rare, hard, blue-gray, lustrous transition metal that is highly corrosion-resistant. It is used in a variety of applications, from electronic components to medical devices, making it an important material in the global economy.

Tantalum is primarily produced through the mining and processing of tantalite ore. The ore is crushed, concentrated, and then chemically processed to extract the tantalum. The extracted tantalum is then refined and processed into various forms, including unwrought tantalum, bars, rods, and powders. Sintering, a process of compacting and fusing powdered materials, is commonly used to produce tantalum bars and rods.

The main inputs required for the production of tantalum under HS code 810320 include tantalite ore, which is the primary raw material, as well as specialized equipment and machinery for mining, processing, and refining the tantalum. Energy sources, such as electricity and fuel, are also essential inputs for the various stages of production.

The main outputs of this industry are unwrought tantalum, tantalum bars, rods, and powders. These products are then consumed by a range of industries, including 854231 Electronic integrated circuits, 902140 Instruments and appliances used in medical, surgical, dental or veterinary sciences, and 848620 Machines and apparatus of a kind used solely or principally for the manufacture of semiconductor boules or wafers, semiconductor devices, electronic integrated circuits or flat panel displays, among others.