logo-loader

Australian Strategic Materials production of titanium metal alloy confirms up to 50% energy saving

Last updated: 14:18 28 Jul 2020 AEST, First published: 13:27 28 Jul 2020 AEST

Alkane Resources Ltd - Alkane Resources' wholly owned subsidiary ASM produces titanium metal alloy confirming up to 50% energy saving
ASM management is in Korea to progress discussions on the commencement of definitive feasibility work

Australian Strategic Materials (ASM) technology partner ZironTech has produced another run of 22 kilograms of titanium metal alloy at the joint venture (JV) commercial plant in South Korea.

Importantly, this test run has confirmed that ASM and ZironTech's patented metal production method uses up to 50% less energy than current commercial production methods.

The electrorefining process to produce high purity (99.9%) titanium metal is progressing with results expected next month.

Cost benefits 

This work forms part of ASM's pilot plant test-work on the use of low emission, high purity metal technology to produce zirconium, titanium and rare earths for permanent magnet metals.

The production of metals indicates significant cost benefits to ASM’s integrated business strategy and is key in the development of ASM's Dubbo Project in Central West NSW to supply critical materials.

Towards 'mine to metal' business

ASM managing director David Woodall said: “Our progress towards an independent fully integrated ’mine to metal’ business of critical materials is continuing very well.

“ASM’s focus is to be a stable, secure and alternate supplier of clean metals for the domestic and global markets with the production of these metals coming from our Dubbo Project.

“The clean metal technology can be applied to all the products from the Dubbo Project with our focus on the key critical materials of neodymium, dysprosium, zirconium, hafnium and praseodymium.”

Commissioning of the electrorefining section of the pilot plant is continuing, which will produce ultra-high purity metal including neodymium, praseodymium, other rare earth metals, zirconium and hafnium metal.

ASM continues with the optimisation of the Dubbo Project through the integration of flotation into the proven flowsheet seeking improved project capital and operating costs.

The company's JV partner continues work which reinforces ASM's metallisation strategy focusing on the products that will be sourced from the Dubbo Project.

Metallisation strategy reinforced 

Woodall continued: “ASM management is currently in Korea to progress discussions on the commencement of a definitive feasibility of a clean metals plant and the progress of a joint Australian/Korean strategy that could ensure supply security and stability of these critical materials to the Australian and Korean manufacturing sectors.”

In a joint venture with South Korea’s ZironTech, ASM is advancing oxide separation and metallisation technologies to create a range of value-added materials from the Dubbo Project.

Demerger process

ASM was established by Alkane Resources Limited (ASX:ALK) (OTCMKTS:ALKEF) as the holding company for the Dubbo Project and ASM is focused on producing specialty metals and oxides for advanced technologies.

On July 16, 2020, at an Alkane extraordinary general meeting, shareholders approved the demerger of ASM which will see ASM become a standalone ASX-listed company with first quotation expected on July 30, 2020.

Alkane Resources nears Kaiser resource upgrade with record gold hits

On the brink of significantly upgrading the mineral resource estimate for its Kaiser deposit in the Northern Molong Porphyry Project in New South Wales, Alkane Resources Ltd (ASX:ALK, OTC:ALKEF) (Alkane Resources Ltd (ASX:ALK, OTC:ALKEF)) managing director Nic Earner takes Proactive’s Jonathan...

1 week, 4 days ago