  Tantalum evaporation boat. 
Evaporation boats are used to hold a sample while it is being heated, for example to drive off vapors that will be analyzed by a spectrometer or gas chromatograph.  This one is made of tantalum foil, which is good for this application because it resists high temperatures, is chemically quite inert, and doesn't cost nearly as much as platinum. 
Source: Ethan Currens 
Contributor: Ethan Currens 
Acquired: 30 October, 2006 
Text Updated: 19 November, 2007 
Price: Donated 
Size: 4" 
Purity: 99%
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