Weekly Metals News Digest – September 9-13
Japan Develops Innovative Alloy for Aviation
Researchers at Japan's National Institute of Materials Science have created an alloy of titanium and nickel that combines the strength of steel with the elasticity of rubber. In experiments, the alloy was elongated by 50% and then further stretched by 12% after being heated to 300°C. This process resulted in the alloy being able to withstand pressure 18,000 times greater than its initial state, making it 20 times more flexible than traditional alloys and as strong as steel. Remarkably, the alloy maintained its performance across a wide temperature range from -80°C to +80°C.
This breakthrough holds great potential for aviation, offering a material that could allow aircraft to change shape, a feat previously unattainable due to the limitations of existing alloys. This innovation could also broaden titanium's use in aviation, which is currently limited to select components such as disks, compressor blades, fasteners, and landing gear.
Beyond aviation, the alloy could find applications in medicine, such as in artificial muscles and prosthetics, potentially driving long-term demand for titanium in global markets.
Perfect Metals Develops Cassiterite Electrolysis Process
Australian company Perfect Metals has introduced a new technology for producing tin powder directly from cassiterite, a key tin mineral, through electrolysis. Traditionally, cassiterite is first beneficiated and smelted to produce tin, which is then turned into powder. However, Perfect Metals’ electrolysis process eliminates the smelting stage, directly converting cassiterite into high-purity tin powder.
This process, which Perfect Metals adapted from a similar method used to produce chrome powder, can be powered by solar energy and produces green hydrogen as a byproduct, enhancing its profitability. The company has built a modular plant for cassiterite electrolysis and plans to scale it up for commercial use.
AngloGold Ashanti Acquires Centamin
AngloGold Ashanti, a major South African gold producer, has agreed to acquire British-based Centamin, which operates in Egypt, in a $2.5 billion deal. Centamin shareholders will receive 0.06983 AngloGold shares and $0.125 in cash per share, a 36.7% premium to Centamin's September 9 closing price. After the transaction, Centamin shareholders will hold a 16.4% stake in the combined company.
Centamin’s main asset is the Sukari gold mine in Egypt, where production began in 2010. In 2024, Centamin expects to produce 470,000 to 500,000 troy ounces of gold. AngloGold Ashanti, which operates on four continents and is the world’s third-largest gold producer, completed a corporate restructuring in September 2023, shifting its primary listing to New York and relocating its head office to the U.S.
Norsk Hydro Expands Aluminum Recycling in Hungary
Norsk Hydro, Europe's largest aluminum producer, has opened a scrap aluminum recycling plant in Hungary with a capacity of 15,000 tons of secondary aluminum per year, with plans to expand to 90,000 tons annually. The recycling plant is adjacent to Hydro's existing aluminum profile production facility, one of Europe’s most advanced, which includes six extrusion presses and surface treatment equipment, mainly serving the automotive industry.
The scrap generated at the production facility will be sent to the new recycling plant for remelting and casting into cylindrical ingots, completing a full cycle of aluminum recycling. This will allow Hydro to meet growing customer demand for low-carbon and recycled aluminum, while also processing scrap to create closed-loop recycling systems.
Vedanta Resources to Boost Nickel Production for EV Batteries
Vedanta Resources plans to increase its nickel and nickel sulfate production to meet the growing demand from electric vehicle battery manufacturers in Asia. The company’s subsidiary, Vedanta Nico, will spearhead the initiative, although details on capital investment have not been disclosed.
India’s electric vehicle market is still in its early stages compared to Japan and South Korea, and Vedanta has requested the Indian government to negotiate the removal of import duties on nickel sulfate in these countries. Vedanta also supplies pure nickel to the stainless steel industry and has signed an agreement with U.S. firm AEsir Technologies for nickel supply.
Global Titanium Market Poised for Major Changes
The global titanium market, valued at $5.35 billion in 2023, is projected to grow to $8.02 billion by 2031 at a compound annual growth rate of 5.24%, according to a forecast by MarketsGlob. However, the market dynamics could shift dramatically if Russia limits titanium exports to countries it considers unfriendly.
Russian President Vladimir Putin recently suggested exploring restrictions on titanium exports, potentially targeting the U.S. and European Union. In the first half of 2024, Russia exported $193.6 million of titanium to Germany and $15.1 million to France. If Russia imposes selective export limits, it could increase dependence on Asian suppliers like China and Japan, which have already ramped up production after Boeing and Airbus stopped buying Russian titanium.
Competition for titanium raw materials is expected to intensify, as large deposits are scarce and mostly located in Africa and Southeast Asia. Chinese and Japanese companies are likely to increase their presence in these regions to secure supplies, further reshaping the global titanium market in the coming years.
