During the period 1960–1982, tantalum, niobium, and their alloys have become increasingly important in industrial applications where superior corrosion resistance is required. These materials are particularly attractive when selected on the basis of “life cycle costing”. This takes into account initial cost, levels of product quality, length of trouble-free operation, and any increase in productivity due to reduced downtime and lower maintenance requirements. The chemical process industry, in particular, has taken advantage of these materials for processing mineral acids at temperatures and concentrations higher than can be withstood by any other materials.

Advances in electron-beam melting technology have also made it possible to manufacture larger and cleaner ingots, resulting in the availability to industry of larger sheets, tubes, and plates with improved property reliability.