2023.12.16 16:19 vuwu Adder WS - my experience so far
2023.11.20 12:25 Chico237 #NIOCORP TITANIUM, SCANDIUM & the Most Valuable Metals We Couldn’t Live Without, Plus ROLLS-ROYCE NIOBIUM ~Carbon composite titanium blades & a bit more....
Oct. 2022 (repost)~Most Valuable Metals We Couldn’t Live Without:Most Valuable Metals That We Couldn’t Live Without Work + Money (workandmoney.com)https://preview.redd.it/xzrkodom3d1c1.png?width=800&format=png&auto=webp&s=1e476deedb57ca613f786abe8750a694e1417e0dOur modern 21st-century lives are driven by metals. They can be found in the LEDs, magnets, electric motors, sensors, data storage and many other components upon which modern life relies. They power our mobility and energy generation, which is why there are hundreds of commercial applications for metals, with more uses being discovered each year. While you are probably familiar with metals such as gold, silver or platinum, they aren’t the most expensive. Most of the costliest metals belong to an obscure group known as the rare earth elements. They're given this name because they are almost always found bound together as a compound, and extracting an individual metal is a complicated, lengthy and expensive process. You can identify a rare earth element from its long, complicated name, such as dysprosium or neodymium. Some are abundant while others are the rarest on the planet. Rare earth metals are vital for low-emission technologies and power generation, such as electric cars and wind turbines. Global efforts to reduce emissions will continue to drive demand, especially in China, which mines almost all of the rare earth ores. This may lead to increasing prices. However, more exploration and new deposits could stabilize or even lower costs. Some metals may appear to have relatively low ounce prices, but keep in mind that sales of these metals (or their ores) are usually transacted in kilograms or even tons. These are some of the most valuable metals in the world. RANKINGS BASED ON PRICE#30 Titaniumhttps://preview.redd.it/t3xtela74d1c1.png?width=800&format=png&auto=webp&s=d522eef829fe29e25eee12b7b7d04607e1c3be25Price per ounce: $0.30 , or $4.80 per pound or $9,600 per U.S. TonHow it's used: Titanium is used in lightweight alloys for aircraft, spacecraft and rockets, and in the manufacturing of laptops, golf clubs and bicycles.Titanium resists seawater corrosion so it’s used for building ships, submarines, and power and desalination plant pipes. Titanium is also used for medical implants and in the painting, coating and plastics industries. What makes it so valuable: The prices of Titanium metal and scrap fell significantly during the pandemic as the aerospace industry, which uses about 90 percent of the metal, slumped. Consequently, mining outputs of Titanium also fell, while the price of scrap metal rose. (Some other Critical Elements are listed as you continue to read article...) JUNE 14, 2023, ~Securing the U.S. Aerospace and Defense Critical Minerals Supply Chain:Securing the U.S. Aerospace and Defense Critical Minerals Supply Chain - Aerospace Industries Association (aia-aerospace.org)https://preview.redd.it/rbrgsb97wc1c1.png?width=921&format=png&auto=webp&s=708ec420032defff58c2bd7c13eb2e673b0253db https://preview.redd.it/2kthk47cwc1c1.png?width=851&format=png&auto=webp&s=0327a1f84cae97d058608cc96ca0e36bf77ba7cc Published July 2023~ TSWG ~ Titanium Sponge Working Group: Ensuring Access to Titanium Sponge in the United States(Excellent read If you have not done so...)file (doc.gov)U.S. Titanium Sponge and Titanium Industry BackgroundTitanium metal is utilized in many aerospace and industrial applications due to its resistance to corrosion and high strength-to-weight ratio. Approximately 80 percent of titanium metal produced in 2019 was utilized in aerospace applications, with the remaining 20 percent used in the chemical and medical industries, among others.Titanium metal is produced by first converting titanium ore into titanium sponge. Titanium sponge, in addition to titanium scrap, can then be melted to produce titanium melt products, including titanium ingot, slab, and other semifinished downstream titanium products. Premium quality titanium sponge is required for high-performance aerospace applications, including rotating parts of turbine engines and some structural parts, while standard grade sponge can be used for static aerospace structural parts. Titanium, and consequently titanium sponge, is essential to U.S. defense and critical infrastructure needs. Titanium is utilized in the manufacturing and maintenance of U.S. defense systems, including aircraft frames, jet and helicopter engines, satellites, ships, submarines, and ground vehicles.(Report continues... *Linked to response below:)August 29, 2023~AIA Response to Titanium Sponge Working Group (TSWG) RecommendationsAIA Response to Titanium Sponge Working Group (TSWG) Recommendations - Aerospace Industries Association (aia-aerospace.org)https://preview.redd.it/kjxep6j16d1c1.png?width=895&format=png&auto=webp&s=e6a13862a5d5cff6d4f2be0fac3de4edd75c9688 TITANIUM ~ Nov. 18th, 2023,~Rolls-Royce tests the ultimate turbofan engine at full power, nothing gives way:Rolls-Royce tests the ultimate turbofan engine at full power, nothing gives way (msn.com)Rolls-Royce is perhaps the largest manufacturer of aircraft engines in world. The British company has had many powerplants in its portfolio over the years. The current lineup consists of several variants from the Trent line and the Pearl. The breed was created in the 90s and offers nine different versions for those in the aircraft manufacturing industry. The engine is only 33 years old but uses the three-spool Roll-Royce architecture introduced over half a century earlier. It's for this reason that the UltraFan unit will be a key piece of technology in the future engine. Dubbed "the ultimate turbofan" It is the first time in 54 years that the company has introduced a new engine architecture. Rolls-Royce began testing the powerplant in early this year, after it was unveiled as a concept in 2014. The testing of the powerplant at Rolls-Royce’s Derby, UK facility began only this year. The engine is currently a technology demonstration, but with the speed at which things are moving now, it won't take long before we see it on an aircraft. Rolls-Royce began testing the UltraFan unit in early 2023 and gradually increased its power until it reached maximum power earlier this week. The engine was designed to be scalable, so it's not clear what this means. The engine can produce anywhere from 25,000 to 110,000 pounds of thrust. This is in large part due to its 140-inch fan, which has a diameter of 3.55 meters. The blades are made from carbon composite TITANIUM, and they are the largest in the world.Specially developed hardware is needed to make the engine run smoothly. It includes a 50 MW gearbox, which can generate as much power as 500 family vehicles. During testing, the system reached 64 MW, an aerospace record. This translates to approximately 87,000 horsepower.The gear design is not only unique to Rolls-Royce, but also something that no other manufacturer has ever been able to do at this scale. The Aero Engine is the largest engine of its kind and was developed specifically to power narrowbody and large body aircraft that will be arriving on the aviation scene by the 2030s. The engine should be 25 percent more efficient than the Trent family's first generation. This is a ten-percent improvement over the Trent XWB engine, which is the most efficient aeroengine of its size today. The UltraFan will also emit 40 percent less NOx, and produce 35 percent less sound than the Trent. It is possible because of the Advance3 core structure and the ALECSys system for lean combustion, which help to increase burn efficiency and reduce emissions. It is important to note that the powerplant was able to run on Sustainable Aviation Fuels (SAF) during the tests, and the Brits announced the results of the tests. According to the latest test results, the UltraFan "has performed in line with our expectations." Rolls engineers will now gather and analyze all data to further refine the motor. Technically, the UltraFan should be operational by the end of this decade. However, it is more realistic to expect the engine in the late 2020s. Some of the technologies that were developed to make the engine might be incorporated into the Trent family. The company has not specified which technologies would be involved. Rolls-Royce, like most companies in the transport business, has also set a goal for Net Zero Flying. It plans to reach this goal by the middle century. The UltraFan was one of the foundations upon which it built that target. When running on SAF, this pillar is the most crucial, and should account for 80 percent or more of the overall goal. At this stage, it's unclear when we will see the first real test flight of the motor. The first test flight will likely be very soon. This is a significant moment in the history of the company. We're also probably going to witness this moment in our lives as we don't get to see an aircraft engine created every day. (Repost) Nov. 9, 2023~The critical challenge of titanium shortages in MRO supply chains:Critical challenge of titanium shortages in MRO supply chains (aerotime.aero)The aerospace and aviation industries have been fighting unprecedented supply chain challenges in recent years, and one of the biggest problems has been the shortage of titanium. This shortage has sent a significant shockwave through the Maintenance, Repair, and Overhaul (MRO) sector, creating a dire need for agile supply chain solutions to counteract the impact. Toma Matutyte, CEO of Locatory.com, a leading aircraft parts locator in the aviation aftermarket, shares insights on the reasons behind the titanium shortage, the consequences it has brought, and the potential solutions that MROs must adopt to navigate this challenging landscape. The role of Ukraine in titanium productionTo understand the titanium shortage, it is essential to recognize Ukraine’s historical significance as one of the largest producers of titanium in the world. Ukraine’s rich titanium resources, particularly the deposits located in the Zaporizhia region, have played a crucial role in global supply. However, the annexation of Crimea by Russia and the war in Ukraine have disrupted this supply chain.While Ukraine itself does not manufacture metallic titanium or its finished products, the country exports titanium concentrates, which are subsequently processed and utilized in various nations. Throughout the conflict, the Ukrainian state-owned United Mining and Chemical Company (UMCC Titanium) managed to export a substantial 82.2 thousand tons of titanium-containing ores between July 2022 and April 2023. Reports from KyivPost and other investigations carried out by Ukrainian and Western media outlined that a notable portion of these shipments ultimately reached Russia. The world’s most significant titanium producer, the Russian VSMPO-Avisma Corporation, has historically depended on Ukrainian raw materials and continues to do so. Investigators have raised alarms, as VSMPO-Avisma’s products are widely used in global aerospace production. Russia was a significant supplier of titanium to both Boeing and Airbus before the war. Boeing even had established a joint venture with VSMPO-AVISMA, a part of Rostec, a Russian government-owned industrial and defense conglomerate. As recently as November 2021, just three months before the war began, Boeing and VSMPO-AVISMA had extended and expanded their collaboration, with approximately one-third of Boeing’s titanium coming from Russia. In Airbus’s case, their reliance on Russian titanium supplies was even more substantial. While they didn’t have a joint venture like Boeing, it’s estimated that they sourced about half of their required titanium from Russia. However, the war has brought about a significant change. To illustrate the gravity of the titanium shortage issue, according to KPMG’s Aerospace & Defence Outlook 2023, titanium shortages have been identified as one of the top supply chain concerns in the aerospace industry. The Oliver Wyman Global Fleet and MRO Market Forecast Update 2022 report highlighted that the demand for titanium in aviation is expected to grow steadily, with no signs of slowing down. Meanwhile, AviationPros reported that US aviation supply chain challenges, including parts shortages and rising costs, are partly attributed to the titanium shortage. Ukraine’s titanium production has been severely impacted by the Russian invasion leading to a decline in exports and a tightening of global titanium supply. This disruption has had far-reaching consequences, as titanium is a vital material in aerospace manufacturing, known for its exceptional strength-to-weight ratio, corrosion resistance, and high-temperature stability. As CFRP (Carbon Fiber Reinforced Plastic) is becoming more widely used in the production of airframe and engine components, global demand for titanium used in aerospace manufacturing is also rising as the metal is perfectly compatible with CFRP when it comes to coefficient of thermal expansion and even corrosiveness. In addition to airframe components, titanium alloys find application in modern aircraft engines, including turbofan motors, which power the majority of the world’s most popular commercial aircraft. Titanium plays a critical role in the production of key engine components, such as the fan, compressor, combustion chamber, and turbine. Ukraine’s titanium production has decreased significantly, contributing to a global titanium production decrease of approximately 12% over the last five years, as per the Oliver Wyman Global Fleet and MRO Market Forecast Update 2022. The shortage has led to a sharp increase in titanium prices. AviationPros puts down that rising costs are one of the factors pressuring the aviation supply chain, with titanium being a major contributor to these cost escalations. Numerous indicators suggest that the biggest aerospace manufacturers, like Boeing, Airbus or Embraer were making earnest efforts to reduce its reliance on Russian suppliers ever since the invasion began and even before the majority of Western sanctions on Russian exports were applied. Nonetheless, as challenging as it was already, additional issues were piling up ever since. While Russia stands as the world’s third-largest titanium producer, lagging behind China and Japan in terms of material output, it had held the position of the primary supplier of aerospace-grade titanium, contributing to half of the world’s aerospace titanium prior to 2022. Various strategies are being considered to address this issue. One possible solution is to procure titanium from China, which overtook Russia as the world’s foremost titanium producer many years ago. However, this approach still presents challenges, as China’s titanium production is steadily increasing, and it would essentially shift the West’s titanium dependency to another nation. The shortage has resulted in delays and disruptions in the production of critical aerospace components, impacting aircraft manufacturing and maintenance schedules. ‘MROs are experiencing resource crunches, with access to sufficient titanium materials becoming increasingly difficult. This directly affects their ability to repair and maintain aircraft. Agile supply chain management as solutions for MROsIn the face of these challenges, MROs must adopt agile supply chain strategies to mitigate the impact of titanium shortages’ – explains Matutytė. Acknowledging the current state of the MRO industry, outlines the following strategies to offset supply chain risk in MRO.
https://preview.redd.it/klmuhtj9nh1c1.png?width=621&format=png&auto=webp&s=89e196e6a108ca9a1186d69af3f349c988e7819b (Relevant repost) Nov. 5th, 2023,~TITANIUM~Critical For F-22 Raptor, F-35 Jet, US Gets Serious Over Titanium Self-Reliance as Ukraine Win Far Away:Critical For F-22 Raptor, F-35 Jet, US Gets Serious Over Titanium Self-Reliance As Ukraine Win Far Away (eurasiantimes.com)Over the last week, the United States has made two critical decisions on acquiring highly significant and strategic materials and ensuring the supply chain for its defense industry. That material is Titanium. On November 2, the State Department, in coordination with the Department of Treasury, imposed sanctions on some individuals and entities associated with Russia’s war effort and other malign activities. That included Joint Stock Company Russian Titanium Resources (RUSTITAN), a Russia-based metals and mining company implementing a project to develop the largest titanium ore deposit in the world located in Russia, and Russian Titanium Resources Limited, a Cyprus-based company controlled by two leading Russian business tycoons named Anatoliy Nikolaevich Tkachuk and Alexey Alexeyevich Novikov. This, in a way, was the logical result of the decision taken on September 25 by the US Department of Commerce to blacklist five Russian companies, including the world’s largest titanium producer VSMPO-Avisma. But the latest decision is more severe as, unlike the sanctions imposed by the US Treasury Department, inclusion in the special list of the Ministry of Commerce called the Entity list does not imply freezing of assets or a ban on any transactions. Inclusion in the “Entity list” meant that for any export transactions with the targeted company, American firms and citizens need to obtain a special license from the Ministry of Commerce. The other important decision taken by the US Department of Defense on October 30 was the award of US$12.7 million via the Defense Production Act Investment (DPAI) Program to “IperionX Technology, LLC” to increase titanium powder production for defense supply chains. “Robust and resilient defense supply chains are critical to the Warfighting capability of the United States,” said Dr. Laura Taylor-Kale, Assistant Secretary of Defense for Industrial Base Policy. “Domestic titanium production is a top priority for the DoD’s industrial base programs.” The award was to commission and scale up IperionX’s facility in Virginia to a demonstration plant, increasing the company’s titanium powder production to 125 metric tons (MT) annually. IperionX aims to produce 10,000 MT of titanium metal powder annually within five years. The company has titanium alloys from either titanium minerals or 100% recycled material. While the increasing importance of IperionX for the US defense industry will be explained later, essential to note here is the fact that now the dangers associated with importing the critical mineral of titanium, whose market is monopolized by Russia and China. True that notwithstanding all their sanctions on Russians and Russian products in the aftermath of Russia’s invasion of Ukraine, the US and its NATO allies continued to import titanium from Russia. The US imported from Russia was US$63.32 Million in 2022, according to the United Nations COMTRADE database on international trade. As regards the NATO allies in Europe, all of them continue to buy as many as 34 “critical” or “strategic” raw materials, including titanium, from Russia. This figure was last updated on November 1. Vsmpo-Avisma, the world’s largest titanium producer, sold at least $308m [€290.5m] of titanium into the European Union (EU) via its German and UK branches between February 2022 and July 2023. Reportedly, the United States is the largest consumer of titanium ore, driven by its thriving aerospace, defense, and industrial sectors. The global titanium market size is valued at US$28 billion in 2023 and is predicted to increase at a CAGR of 6.5% to reach a market valuation of US$52.5 billion by the end of 2033. Titanium and titanium alloys have unique properties: they are lightweight and have a very high ratio of strength to weight. Their density is typically around 60% that of steel. They withstand high temperatures and have a high corrosion resistance. These properties have caused the metal to be widely used in the aerospace industry, chemical processing vessels and piping, power plant components, desalination plants, and medical applications like implants and surgical devices. Titanium is most critical for aerostructures and engines, both military and civilian because it is strong yet lightweight and resistant to corrosion. It is less likely to cause galvanic corrosion when joined to carbon fiber-reinforced plastic (CFRP) parts like body and wing panels or control surfaces. Galvanic corrosion occurs when two dissimilar metals are connected, and electrons can flow and cause the metals to corrode. The carbon fibers in CRFPs are electrically conductive, so attaching them to aluminum alloys makes the metal and the composite vulnerable to deterioration. Titanium alloys are resistant to this. The second attractive property of the mineral is that titanium thermal coefficients of expansion are very similar to CFRPs. This is important because airplanes undergo significant temperature changes over regular flight cycles. Reportedly, titanium alloys account for approximately 15% of the Boeing 787 airframe by weight. In the Airbus A350XWB, it is about 14% and is used in landing gear, pylons, attachments, door surrounds, frames, and other parts. All this explains why titanium from Russia has been so difficult to be under Western sanctions. Europe’s largest aerospace company, Airbus, currently relies on Russia for about half of its titanium supply, it is said. And Airbus’ US rival Boeing was getting about 1/3rd of its requirements from Russia until recently. As regards the US defense industry, titanium is being used in several aircraft types, with one of the most notable being the Lockheed SR-71 Blackbird, 93% of which weight consists of alloys that feature the material. The metal is also said to be used in a few other notable aircraft, such as the Lockheed Martin F-22 Raptor, of which 42% of its weight is made up of alloys that contain titanium, and the Lockheed Martin F-35 Lightning II, where titanium accounts for around a third of the aircraft’s weight. Titanium has also been increasingly popular in the naval sector because salt water has almost no effect on the material. It is being used in the exterior of many submarines and other naval vessels. It is also found helpful in the likes of exhaust stack liners, submarine ball valves, fire pumps, and heat exchangers, as well as the majority of a submarine’s piping and cooling systems. (Article shortened here in order to post...=)...) It may be noted here that increasing domestic production of critical minerals and metals needed for advanced technologies will reduce America’s reliance on foreign suppliers. President Biden has already invoked “the Defense Production Act,” a move meant to give the government more avenues to support the mining, processing, and recycling of critical materials. This Act gives the President access to funding and other enhanced powers to shore up the American industrial base and ensure that the private sector has the necessary resources to defend national security and face emergencies. Biden has asked the Pentagon to bolster the critical mineral supply by supporting feasibility studies for new projects, encouraging waste reclamation at existing sites, and modernizing or increasing production at domestic mines for the so-called essential minerals. It is in this context that the recently passed defense spending bill, which has authorized US$1 billion for the National Defense Stockpile to acquire strategic minerals and rare earth elements that have critical use in military and other applications, needs to be seen. SEPT. 12, 2023,~SLIDES FROM NioCorp CEO Mark Smith To Highlight Aluminum-Scandium Master Alloy Initiative at the 25th Annual H.C. Wainwright Global Investment ConferenceReddit - https://preview.redd.it/frr5qk96q6vb1.jpg?width=2400&format=pjpg&auto=webp&s=3de236dbad4875cb211be55c0f9b8edbe4230fcbNOTES: MARK SMITH - (Should hear (Announce) something about the Stellantis Deal in 45 to 60 Days!!!!!)(***Note: MID NOV. 2023 is approx. 60 days out!https://preview.redd.it/a15ym54mlh1c1.png?width=800&format=png&auto=webp&s=65d074304af73bc54376dd45caae09200405adf5NOTES: MAJOR IMPROVEMENTS TO RECOVERIES FOR ALL MINERALS. TITANIUM "TICKLE" MAY BECOME A LARGE SOURCE OF REVENUE GOING FORWARD. TITANIUM OFFTAKE AGREEMENT PER MARK SMITH - "SOON!!!"https://preview.redd.it/iwy7vvcrlh1c1.png?width=800&format=png&auto=webp&s=ded2c68b6aac3d5a47b21278ea81bc7ae03c984bNOTES:1) OEMS/ENTITIES ARE SEEKING MANY DIFFERENT PARTS TO BE MANUFACTURED FROM SCANDIUM ALUMINUM ALLOY.2) OEMS WANT SCANDIUM ALUMINUM MASTER ALLOYS! ******3) NIOCORP IN COLLABORATION WITH NANOSCALE INTEND TO ANNOUNCE MATERIAL NEWS IN REGARD TO ~SCANDIUM INGOT PRODUCTION! ~ SOON!!!!!! ***\* TASK ABOVE COMPLETED ON!***Oct. 18th ,2023 - NioCorp Produces Ingot of Aluminum-Scandium Metal Alloy Using Environmentally Superior Process:NioCorp Produces Ingot of Aluminum-Scandium Metal Alloy Using Environmentally Superior Process NioCorp Developments Ltd.https://preview.redd.it/p1p366pwlh1c1.png?width=980&format=png&auto=webp&s=ebaa8211d9aa3b9a1b8833dc31f749b4f70c7af5 4) SCANDIUM ALUMINUM PARTS HAVE THE POTENTIAL TO BE CHEAPER $$$$ TO PRODUCE & MANUFATURE THAN CURRENT ALUMINUM OEM PARTS (per Mark Smith) 5) BATTERRY BOXES MANUFACTURED FROM SCANDIUM ALUMINUM ARE 20% LIGHTER THAN "ALUMINUM" BATTERY BOXES IN PRODUCTION TODAY!!! ~OEMS WANT "LIGHTWEIGHTING MATERIALS!"~ 6) SCANDIUM ALUMINUM COMPONENTS HAVE TREMENDOUS WELDABILITY! (Friction, Mig, Tig...) ~WELDS WHEN MADE ARE AS STRONG AS THE BASE MATERIAL ITSELF!~ 7) NIOCORPS ENTIRE ESTIMATED 100 TONS OF PRODUCTION WILL ONLY PRODUCE APPROXIMATELY ~1 MILLION BATTERY BOXES!~ ....... (Sounds like the market for SCANDIUM is RIPE FOR THE ENTITIES/OEM's THAT WANT TO UTILIZE IT!!!?? FORM YOUR OWN OPINIONS & CONCLUSIONS:(A NICE READ WITH COFFEE!)Volume 109 Number 20 November 2023Volume 109 Number 20 November 2023 - The Northern Minerhttps://preview.redd.it/k9ro9w2bkh1c1.png?width=622&format=png&auto=webp&s=df565356727941b6f76d4bde475e167c7cdb53ff NioCorp Annual General Meeting Set for December 29, 2023https://preview.redd.it/a8afi4c0lh1c1.png?width=744&format=png&auto=webp&s=8f3c9b9144e0bb6d1e5f22cd34b18b0e5e584b1c(TITANIUM REALLY SEEMS TO BE IN THE HEADLINES LATELY!....)NioCorp Developments Ltd. – Critical Minerals SecurityAS THE SECOND LARGEST, "PROVEN" REE RESOURCE IN THE U.S. INCLUDING THE CRITICAL MINERALS NIOBIUM, TITANIUM & SCANDIUM!Niocorp has continued to execute on their plan. The Elk Creek Mine has numerous studies posted by the USGS & Private entities (Some very recent 2023). Waiting for several catalysts to conclude i.e. - including the Final F.S. & Finance $$$$GIVEN WHAT NIOCORPS CRITICAL MATERIALS CAN DO! I.E.-MAGNETS, CERAMIC ALLOYS, SUPERCONDUCTORS, HYDROGEN ELECTROLYZERS, BATTERIES, SEMICONDUCTORS, QUANTUM COMPUTING, LIGHTWIEGHTING, SUPER-ALLOYS, & SO MUCH MORE... ****& THE NEED FOR A STABLE, SECURE, ESG, TRACEBLE U.S. SOURCE FOR ALL....I'M....https://preview.redd.it/lq2p5y7qkh1c1.png?width=800&format=png&auto=webp&s=c3d91b747164cad60ae0fe5bd88e92b95b5e6579Chico |
2023.11.06 13:27 Chico237 #NIOCORP~TITANIUM~Critical For F-22 Raptor, F-35 Jet, US Gets Serious Over Titanium Self-Reliance As Ukraine Win Far Away & a bit more....
Nov. 5th, 2023,~TITANIUM~Critical For F-22 Raptor, F-35 Jet, US Gets Serious Over Titanium Self-Reliance as Ukraine Win Far Away:Critical For F-22 Raptor, F-35 Jet, US Gets Serious Over Titanium Self-Reliance As Ukraine Win Far Away (eurasiantimes.com)The SR-71 ‘Blackbird’ (file photo/Wikimedia Commons) Over the last week, the United States has made two critical decisions on acquiring highly significant and strategic materials and ensuring the supply chain for its defense industry. That material is Titanium. On November 2, the State Department, in coordination with the Department of Treasury, imposed sanctions on some individuals and entities associated with Russia’s war effort and other malign activities. That included Joint Stock Company Russian Titanium Resources (RUSTITAN), a Russia-based metals and mining company implementing a project to develop the largest titanium ore deposit in the world located in Russia, and Russian Titanium Resources Limited, a Cyprus-based company controlled by two leading Russian business tycoons named Anatoliy Nikolaevich Tkachuk and Alexey Alexeyevich Novikov. This, in a way, was the logical result of the decision taken on September 25 by the US Department of Commerce to blacklist five Russian companies, including the world’s largest titanium producer VSMPO-Avisma. But the latest decision is more severe as, unlike the sanctions imposed by the US Treasury Department, inclusion in the special list of the Ministry of Commerce called the Entity list does not imply freezing of assets or a ban on any transactions. Inclusion in the “Entity list” meant that for any export transactions with the targeted company, American firms and citizens need to obtain a special license from the Ministry of Commerce. The other important decision taken by the US Department of Defense on October 30 was the award of US$12.7 million via the Defense Production Act Investment (DPAI) Program to “IperionX Technology, LLC” to increase titanium powder production for defense supply chains. “Robust and resilient defense supply chains are critical to the Warfighting capability of the United States,” said Dr. Laura Taylor-Kale, Assistant Secretary of Defense for Industrial Base Policy. “Domestic titanium production is a top priority for the DoD’s industrial base programs.” The award was to commission and scale up IperionX’s facility in Virginia to a demonstration plant, increasing the company’s titanium powder production to 125 metric tons (MT) annually. IperionX aims to produce 10,000 MT of titanium metal powder annually within five years. The company has titanium alloys from either titanium minerals or 100% recycled material. While the increasing importance of IperionX for the US defense industry will be explained later, essential to note here is the fact that now the dangers associated with importing the critical mineral of titanium, whose market is monopolized by Russia and China. True that notwithstanding all their sanctions on Russians and Russian products in the aftermath of Russia’s invasion of Ukraine, the US and its NATO allies continued to import titanium from Russia. The US imported from Russia was US$63.32 Million in 2022, according to the United Nations COMTRADE database on international trade. As regards the NATO allies in Europe, all of them continue to buy as many as 34 “critical” or “strategic” raw materials, including titanium, from Russia. This figure was last updated on November 1. Vsmpo-Avisma, the world’s largest titanium producer, sold at least $308m [€290.5m] of titanium into the European Union (EU) via its German and UK branches between February 2022 and July 2023. Reportedly, the United States is the largest consumer of titanium ore, driven by its thriving aerospace, defense, and industrial sectors. The global titanium market size is valued at US$28 billion in 2023 and is predicted to increase at a CAGR of 6.5% to reach a market valuation of US$52.5 billion by the end of 2033. Titanium and titanium alloys have unique properties: they are lightweight and have a very high ratio of strength to weight. Their density is typically around 60% that of steel. They withstand high temperatures and have a high corrosion resistance. These properties have caused the metal to be widely used in the aerospace industry, chemical processing vessels and piping, power plant components, desalination plants, and medical applications like implants and surgical devices. Titanium is most critical for aerostructures and engines, both military and civilian because it is strong yet lightweight and resistant to corrosion. It is less likely to cause galvanic corrosion when joined to carbon fiber-reinforced plastic (CFRP) parts like body and wing panels or control surfaces. Galvanic corrosion occurs when two dissimilar metals are connected, and electrons can flow and cause the metals to corrode. The carbon fibers in CRFPs are electrically conductive, so attaching them to aluminum alloys makes the metal and the composite vulnerable to deterioration. Titanium alloys are resistant to this. The second attractive property of the mineral is that titanium thermal coefficients of expansion are very similar to CFRPs. This is important because airplanes undergo significant temperature changes over regular flight cycles. Reportedly, titanium alloys account for approximately 15% of the Boeing 787 airframe by weight. In the Airbus A350XWB, it is about 14% and is used in landing gear, pylons, attachments, door surrounds, frames, and other parts. All this explains why titanium from Russia has been so difficult to be under Western sanctions. Europe’s largest aerospace company, Airbus, currently relies on Russia for about half of its titanium supply, it is said. And Airbus’ US rival Boeing was getting about 1/3rd of its requirements from Russia until recently. As regards the US defense industry, titanium is being used in several aircraft types, with one of the most notable being the Lockheed SR-71 Blackbird, 93% of which weight consists of alloys that feature the material. The metal is also said to be used in a few other notable aircraft, such as the Lockheed Martin F-22 Raptor, of which 42% of its weight is made up of alloys that contain titanium, and the Lockheed Martin F-35 Lightning II, where titanium accounts for around a third of the aircraft’s weight. Titanium has also been increasingly popular in the naval sector because salt water has almost no effect on the material. It is being used in the exterior of many submarines and other naval vessels. It is also found helpful in the likes of exhaust stack liners, submarine ball valves, fire pumps, and heat exchangers, as well as the majority of a submarine’s piping and cooling systems. All this explains why there is a highly credible theory that if Ukraine wins in its ongoing war with Russia, “the US and its allies will be in pole position to cultivate a new conduit of titanium. But if Russia manages to seize the country’s deposits and plants, Moscow will boost its global influence over increasingly strategic resources”. The point is that while Western nations want to isolate Russia economically, they haven’t diversified their supply chains to insulate the geopolitical rivals. Ukraine is critical to them as it is one of the seven nations producing titanium sponge, the basis for titanium metal. China produced more than 231,000 tons of titanium sponge last year, according to the US Geological Survey, making up 57 percent of global output. Next came Japan with 17 percent and Russia with 13 percent. Kazakhstan produced almost 18,000 tons, and Ukraine had more than 4,000 tons. Newsweek magazine has quoted a senior US official saying, “Ukraine has significant deposits of rare earth minerals, and if we play our cards right, could be a desirable alternative to Russian and Chinese sources, which is where a lot of dependency currently is. As there are increasing debates throughout the West about why it’s in our interest to keep supporting Ukraine, I think this is one of the arguments that you will start hearing more.” The magazine has also been told by Stephen Blank, a senior fellow at the Foreign Policy Research Institute and former professor of Russian studies at the US Army War College, that Ukraine could deliver significant titanium to the West within months of the war’s end, whenever that might be. “They have to rebuild the entire country from top to bottom, which is a great opportunity for investors if you think about it,” Blank added. Support from governments in Kyiv and Washington, DC, will be needed to unleash the potential, he said. However, now that there seems to be no early prospect of the war’s conclusion in Ukraine, and that too in favor of the West, the US has no better alternative than strengthening the domestic titanium supply chain for its critical defense systems. And here, as has been noted above, IperionX is assuming great significance. It is high in the plans of the US Department of Defense(DoD) for “mining, processing, and refining of ore, as well as the recycling of scrap titanium.” For instance, on September 7, IperionX executed a Test Services Agreement and Statement of Work with the US Army Combat Capabilities Development Command Ground Vehicle Systems Center (DEVCOM GVSC). The latter is supposed to relay the results to select US DoD contractors who are original equipment manufacturers (OEMs) of US Army ground vehicles, such as General Dynamics Land Systems, BAE Systems, Inc., American Rheinmetall Defense, Inc., the US counterpart of Rheinmetall AG (FRA: RHM), Oshkosh Corporation (NYSE: OSK) and AM General, a privately held firm based in South Bend, Indiana. IperionX also agreed with Lockheed Martin in August to deliver titanium plates to the US defense contractor Lockheed Martin. Lockheed Martin will use the order to test the material properties and performance of titanium from IperionX’s novel production, which is supposed to be a more energy-efficient method with zero emissions. IperionX Limited has also won the DoD’s National Security Innovation Network (NSIN) Air Force Research Laboratory (AFRL) Grand Challenge contract. As a result, it is now eligible to produce titanium metal powders from scrap materials and rejuvenate used or out-of-specification titanium powder for the AFRL. It may be noted here that increasing domestic production of critical minerals and metals needed for advanced technologies will reduce America’s reliance on foreign suppliers. President Biden has already invoked “the Defense Production Act,” a move meant to give the government more avenues to support the mining, processing, and recycling of critical materials. This Act gives the President access to funding and other enhanced powers to shore up the American industrial base and ensure that the private sector has the necessary resources to defend national security and face emergencies. Biden has asked the Pentagon to bolster the critical mineral supply by supporting feasibility studies for new projects, encouraging waste reclamation at existing sites, and modernizing or increasing production at domestic mines for the so-called essential minerals. It is in this context that the recently passed defense spending bill, which has authorized US$1 billion for the National Defense Stockpile to acquire strategic minerals and rare earth elements that have critical use in military and other applications, needs to be seen.SEPT. 12, 2023,~SLIDES FROM NioCorp CEO Mark Smith To Highlight Aluminum-Scandium Master Alloy Initiative at the 25th Annual H.C. Wainwright Global Investment Conference.Reddit - https://preview.redd.it/frr5qk96q6vb1.jpg?width=2400&format=pjpg&auto=webp&s=3de236dbad4875cb211be55c0f9b8edbe4230fcbhttps://preview.redd.it/l7oyfnpsypyb1.png?width=800&format=png&auto=webp&s=2724dcf88b4ce9bd81f04a50bd23a5e1d007522b NOTES: MARK SMITH - (Should hear (Announce) something about the Stellantis Deal in 45 to 60 Days!!!!!)(***Note: MID NOV. 2023 is approx. 60 days out!)NOTES: MAJOR IMPROVEMENTS TO RECOVERIES FOR ALL MINERALS. TITANIUM "TICKLE" MAY BECOME A LARGE SOURCE OF REVENUE GOING FORWARD. TITANIUM OFFTAKE AGREEMENT PER MARK SMITH - "SOON!!!"https://preview.redd.it/7zhmyod4zpyb1.png?width=800&format=png&auto=webp&s=69eca61574c5bb11703920c493d53c1356e84a43NOTES:1) OEMS/ENTITIES ARE SEEKING MANY DIFFERENT PARTS TO BE MANUFACTURED FROM SCANDIUM ALUMINUM ALLOY.2) OEMS WANT SCANDIUM ALUMINUM MASTER ALLOYS! ******3) NIOCORP IN COLLABORATION WITH NANOSCALE INTEND TO ANNOUNCE MATERIAL NEWS IN REGARD TO ~SCANDIUM INGOT PRODUCTION! ~ SOON!!!!!! ***\* TASK ABOVE COMPLETED ON!Oct. 18th ,2023 - NioCorp Produces Ingot of Aluminum-Scandium Metal Alloy Using Environmentally Superior Process:NioCorp Produces Ingot of Aluminum-Scandium Metal Alloy Using Environmentally Superior Process NioCorp Developments Ltd.https://preview.redd.it/ile179elzpyb1.png?width=980&format=png&auto=webp&s=b95b1edff28bb5ee1db39686c4a8adc85bbe172d 4) SCANDIUM ALUMINUM PARTS HAVE THE POTENTIAL TO BE CHEAPER $$$$ TO PRODUCE & MANUFATURE THAN CURRENT ALUMINUM OEM PARTS (per Mark Smith) 5) BATTERRY BOXES MANUFACTURED FROM SCANDIUM ALUMINUM ARE 20% LIGHTER THAN "ALUMINUM" BATTERY BOXES IN PRODUCTION TODAY!!! ~OEMS WANT "LIGHTWEIGHTING MATERIALS!"~ 6) SCANDIUM ALUMINUM COMPONENTS HAVE TREMENDOUS WELDABILITY! (Friction, Mig, Tig...) ~WELDS WHEN MADE ARE AS STRONG AS THE BASE MATERIAL ITSELF!~ 7) NIOCORPS ENTIRE ESTIMATED 100 TONS OF PRODUCTION WILL ONLY PRODUCE APPROXIMATELY ~1 MILLION BATTERY BOXES!~ ....... (Sounds like the market for SCANDIUM is RIPE FOR THE ENTITIES/OEM's THAT WANT TO UTILIZE IT!!!?? Open-and-Upcoming-Infrastructure-Funding-Opportunities-Nov-2023_FINAL.pdf (whitehouse.gov)https://preview.redd.it/o58sgrp90qyb1.png?width=1001&format=png&auto=webp&s=756981a7ef07cb0e0d3d9973ba861900c43a9524https://preview.redd.it/cpl428vf0qyb1.png?width=929&format=png&auto=webp&s=9c309cdbdcf9775b5fc43c8477c46b7d2ae8efe0 FORM YOUR OWN OPINIONS & CONCLUSIONS ABOVE:(Quick AM post!) ... I'll update DoE/LPO application report once posted. Should be later this week.Let's GO NIOCORP! Waiting with many to see an announcement on MATERIAL News on Stellantis, Titanium Offtake & potentially more.... !!!!! https://preview.redd.it/x6y2a4hl0qyb1.png?width=800&format=png&auto=webp&s=c56e2d7e8d1904b701c7cad0b1790b9981e98778 Chico |
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