In recent years, the pace of tantalum and tantalum sheet research has slowed down compared with that in the 1960s and 1970s, but it is still mainly focused on new applications in electronics, chemical industry, superalloy, weapon system and so on. The new development and application of tantalum and tantalum alloy in recent years are introduced.

Tantalum is mostly used in the electronics industry. According to relevant reports, 60% ~ 65% of tantalum is used in the electronic industry. For example, tantalum powder sintered blocks are used to make anodes for various liquid and solid group capacitors, tantalum wires are used as anode leads for capacitors, and tantalum cases and tantalum plates are used for tantalum group capacitors, liquid tantalum capacitors and some special types of solid group capacitors. It reflects the demand of capacitor grade tantalum powder in recent years. Although the demand for tantalum powder in the first half of 2002 was lower than that in the second half of 2001 and the first half of 2002, the decline was reversed by the increase in the demand for tantalum capacitors, and the demand for tantalum powder increased by 25% compared with that in the second half of 2001. With the rapid increase of tantalum capacitor consumption in laptop computers, cameras, electronic controllers, mobile phones and automobile airbag systems and control systems [4], the application of tantalum in capacitors will still increase. Niobium capacitors are also developing rapidly. However, due to the low limit operating temperature (no more than 105 C) of niobium capacitors, the leakage rate is 5~ 10 times that of tantalum capacitors, so at present niobium capacitors pose no threat to the consumption of tantalum capacitors.