Tantalum Beads
X-medics is the sole ISO 13485 certified tantalum beads manufacturer in the market and a dominating component supplier to the medical device industry. The beads from X-medics fulfill market leading quality specifications, and are supplied with full 3rd party documentation for surface purity and raw material conformance.
X-medics’ beads are tantalum markers components to be inserted into medical devices to facilitate radiostereometric analysis. They are further characterized by a good sphericity and and have adequate mechanical properties to withstand the impact of insertion into the devices.
X-medics’ products are sold as technical components for production and R&D purposes. Unfortunately we do not offer finished medical devices or products registered for end-user surgery.
Large Inventory for Instant Shipping
We hold a large inventory of finished tantalum beads ready for shipping and can support almost any required quantity, delivered world-wide except Canada* within a week. Our inventory is suitable for manufacturing and R&D purposes only
Please browse our standard sizes below and contact us with your request. If your specs are not met in our standard portfolio we may still be able to produce them for you. In our shop you may further purchase small volume samples. Our samples are delivered with a full 3.1 certification package and is quick way to initiate your upcoming project.
*) In Canada “tantalum beads” are considered as a Class III Medical device no matter the intended use. Canadian customers may request to purchase tantalum balls instead.
Inventory Available for Instant Shipping
Browse and select your desired product below on this page to see our available inventory. All listed products are available as test samples, that can be checked out by credit card payment directly from the product pages. Consider ordering more test samples at the same time, to save shipping costs.
Diameter 0.300 mm (0.0118")
Diameter 0.400 mm (0.0157")
Diameter 0.500 mm (0.0197")
Diameter 0.650 mm (0.0256")
Diameter 0.800 mm (0.0315")
Super Polished
- B0800-BU2-S80: High Tolerance +/- 0.005 mm (0.0002″) – Ta R05200 – Super Polished – ASTM F86 Cleaned and Passivated
- B0800-BU2-SK8: High Tolerance +/- 0.005 mm (0.0002″) – Ta R05200 – Super Polished – ASTM F86 – Clean room packaging
- B0800-BA4-S00: High Tolerance +/- 0.005 mm (0.0002″) – Ta R05400 – Super Polished – ANNEALED
Diameter 1.000 mm (0.0394")
Super polished
- B1000-BU2-S80: High Tolerance +/- 0.005 mm (0.0002″) – Ta R05200 – Super Polished – ASTM F86 Cleaned and Passivated
- B1000-BU2-S00: High Tolerance +/- 0.005 mm (0.0002″) – Ta R05200 – Super Polished
- B1000-BU2-S8K: High Tolerance +/- 0.005 mm (0.0002″) – Ta R05200 – Super Polished – ASTM F86 – Clean room packaging
Diameter 1.600 mm (0.0630")
Diameter 2.000 mm (0.0787")
Diameter 2.100 mm (0.0827")
Diameter 2.360 mm (0.0929")
Diameter 2.680 mm (0.1055")
Diameter 2.730 mm (0.1075")
Diameter 3.175 mm (0.125")
Bead Tolerance
X-medics standard ball tolerance is +/- 0.005 mm (AFMBA grade 50) that has been optimized for automated processing and general tolerance requirements when inserted into PEEK and other medical grade materials design. For some bead diameters we also offer a lower (+/- 0.02 mm) tolerance that can offered at a slightly lower cost than our standard tolerance.
Tantalum Grade
Surgical grade tantalum offers a superior biocompatibility and is available in two tantalum metal grades – R05200 (electron beam / vacuum arc melted) and R05400 (sintered). A tantalum marker manufactured from R05200 or R05400 material is equally suitable for surgery and shows identical mechanical and chemical characteristics.
Surface finish
X-medics’ beads are available as either standard polished or super-polished. The standard polished beads undergo a single polishing step during bead processing and are a cost-optimized option that is suitable for most applications. The super-polished beads undergo several polishing steps and have been developed as a high-end option to be used in advanced automated processes.
> Read more about surface finish.
ASTM F86 Cleaning and Passivation
ASTM F86 Cleaning and Passivation is a standard cleaning procedure to remove particles and process residues from the tantalum surface. As ASTM F86 is a cost efficient cleaning method it is specified by 90 percent of X-medics’ customers. In some cases ASTM F86 treatment is not suitable, as the the passivation may increase the thickness of natural occurring tantalum oxide layer on the tantalum surface. The thicker tantalum oxide layer may tend to build up static electricity and increase the surface roughness (friction) of the beads.
ISO 9001 and ISO 13485
X-medics is ISO 9001 and ISO 13485 certified by Bureau Veritas Europe.
> Link to ISO 9001: certificate
> Link to ISO 13485 certificate
3rd Party Evaluation
Every material lot has been tested by an independent ISO 17025 accredited laboratory to confirm that the material satisfies the requirements of ASTM F560 / ISO 13782 and is suitable for ball processing. The laboratory analyses the chemical and mechanical characteristics of the wire and compare them again the specifications and issues an report
> More about 3rd party material testing.
Conflict Free Sourcing
All X-medics’ tantalum products are conflict-free. X-medics only works with suppliers that can show evidence for a continuous 3rd party auditing, performed by independent auditors appointed by Electronic Industry Citizenship Coalition (www.eicc.info), or similar recognized bodies. Proper origin of the materials, and compliance with the Dodd-Frank Wall Street Reform and Consumer Protection Act’s conflict minerals is required to be documented, and this documentation can be tracked on the certificate that follows any shipment from X-medics. X-medics does not use tantalum minerals with origin in the DRC Congo, or other conflict areas covered by the law.
> See our conflict free sourcing policy.
ISO 10993-5 Cytotoxicity Testing
The produced spheres are tested for cytotoxicity by an ISO 17025 accredited laboratory. The test is done to verify that no harmful substances (process chemicals, cleaning agents or particles) remain in critical (cytotoxic) amounts after the tantalum beads have been processed and cleaned.
> View more about ISO 10993-5 Cytotoxicity trials
REACH and RoHS Compliance
All tantalum products from x-medics are REACH and RoSH compliant.
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