BioTech Encyclopedia

Elements · ← Hf Hafnium · W Tungsten →

Ta Tantalum

Porous tantalum is used in bone implants because bone grows into it.

Basic facts

SymbolTa
Atomic number73
Standard atomic weight180.9479
Group5
Period6
Blockd-block
CategoryTransition metal
Standard stateSolid
Discovered1802

Source: PubChem, Tantalum (periodic table data, retrieved 2026-10-19). Group and period follow the standard 18-column periodic table.

Biotech uses & experiments

biomedical

lab biomedical 1999

Bone grows into porous tantalum

Bobyn and colleagues implanted a 75–80% porous tantalum material in dogs; new bone filled 42–53% of the pores by four weeks and 63–80% by 16 to 52 weeks, with a shear fixation strength of at least 18.5 MPa at four weeks.

As reported in: Bobyn, Stackpool, Hacking et al. (1999). Characteristics of bone ingrowth and interface mechanics of a new porous tantalum biomaterial. The Journal of Bone and Joint Surgery. British volume. doi:10.1302/0301-620x.81b5.0810907

Abstract only

Patents

Search Google Patents for tantalum in biological and medical uses: all patents · recent applications (2022+)

A patent is a legal claim, not proof that something works. See the Patents page.