Challenge of Materials

Tantalum was first isolated pure in 1903 by the German scientist Werner von Bolton. From its initial limited use as lamp filaments, tantalum is now an important metal. It has a high melting point, excellent corrosion resistance and is easy to work. A

• Shot green/purple tantalum bangle, 1976.

From its initial limited use as lamp filaments, tantalum is now an important metal. It has a high melting point, excellent corrosion resistance and is easy to work. As a result tantalum is used in chemical equipment where heat has to be transferred u

• Opal and green/purple tantalum earrings, 1976.

Mottled brown rectangular block of Raw Leaf Gutta Percha, manufactured on Telcon Plastics Ltd.'s plantation in Malaya during the Japanese occupation, 1942-1945.

• Block of raw leaf gutta percha, 1942-1945.

Silver pomander, disc shaped, with loop for suspension, decorated with intricate filigree open work, marked

• Pomander, possibly Tunisian, 1904.

The term ceramic, in its modern context, covers an extremely broad range of inorganic materials. They contain non-metallic and metallic elements and are produced by a wide variety of manufacturing techniques. They include pottery, refractories, cemen

• Silicon nitride turbo-rotor, 1996.

• Hydrogen-powered scooter

Pewter porringer or bleeding bowl, graduated

• Pewter bleeding bowl, 18th or 19th century.

Bakelite pin tray with hinged lid in the company's trefoil shape, c. 1950

• Bakelite pin tray, 1950.

Three spools of polyethylene terephthalate filaments produced at the Chemical Research Laboratory, Teddington (D.S.I.R) in 1943-44

• Spools of polyethylene terephthalate filaments, 1943-1944.

The ability to withstand high temperatures without melting or corroding and to retain strength at those temperatures is crucially important in certain situations. Nickel has proved to be a remarkable base metal for high- temperature alloys and is cap