[HangnJudge]

Los Alamos National Laboratory scientists have developed a tantalum carbide-graphite composite material that is one of the hardest materials ever synthesized. Perhaps it was a materials application...

Tantalum is occasionally use is very temperature environments
Light bulbs used to use tantalum filaments before tungsten became
generally used

[jveritas]

Why do the Iraqi needs it? As I said this was absoltely prohibited for the Iraqis to have according to the UN document. Please see page 133 and 84 of this http://www.un.org/Depts/unmovic/documents/S-2002-515.pdf an * next to an item means it is prohibited. According to the document this material are used to resist the highly corrosive UF6.

[cowdog77]

"Los Alamos National Laboratory scientists have developed a tantalum carbide-graphite composite material ..."
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If so, the Chinese also have it now...thanks to Presidential aspirant Richardson!