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Alan Mclelland. Namtec. Research Expenditure Report. Critical Metals: Impact and Opportunities 22 nd March 2012 Dr Alan McLelland. New or Technology Metals. Critical Metals. Indium Lithium Neodymium. Rate of metal consumption. Rate of usage is escalating. New metals.
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Alan Mclelland Namtec Research Expenditure Report
Critical Metals: Impact and Opportunities 22nd March 2012 Dr Alan McLelland
Critical Metals • Indium • Lithium • Neodymium
Rate of metal consumption • Rate of usage is escalating
New metals • Changes in the metals that we need
Sources have changed • Both Europe and the USA became significant net importers of raw materials / within finished goods • Low cost sources have got smart!
What is the impact? • ‘Technology Metals’ have a key role for the future • Offshore Wind – neodymium and dysprosium • Nuclear – hafnium • Solar – tellurium, gallium tellurium • Electric Vehicles - neodymium and dysprosium, lithium, colbolt • Aerospace – rhenium and ruthenium • Flat Screen Displays – indium • Electronics – huge array (gallium, tantalum, PTG)
Do we have a problem? • If you are the seller – clearly not • A key issue is we are setting out a future which builds in a reliance on these technology metals • Supply scenario is currently far behind the projected need • All can be mitigated • Don’t have use permanent magnets, don’t have to use lithium based batteries ………. • Lot of attention to substitution but real concern over timescale and potential for success
What can we do? • ‘Nothing’ ‘problems too big for us’ ‘has to be government’ • Practical level • Awareness of the role these play in your business and its future • Can we use less? • Can you substitute? • Can you use a metal that is not derived as a by product? • Manufacturing efficiency?
Let’s recycle? • Smart phone contains ~ 25mg gold • How many? • Equates to around 40 tonnes of gold • 400 tonnes of silver, 14 tonnes of palladium, 14,000 tonnes of copper, 6000 tonnes of cobalt …………. • 1 product waste stream • Commercially, does it have legs? • BUT
Let’s recycle? • Capture very little – need it now • Isolate and separate • Capture of individual metals is technically challenging • small quantities, widely distributed, thin layers, combined into components, alloyed, physically integrated …… • Area of considerable challenge, development but opportunity • Are making progress but will it be in time? • Ought to do better than today……..