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- Australian Strategic Materials (ASM) has produced six kilograms of a neodymium iron boron (NdFeB) alloy with the Korean Institute of Rare Metals (KIRAM)
- The key materials for the alloy were taken from ASM’s Dubbo rare earths project in New South Wales
- There is growing demand for rare earths to supply a diverse range of emerging and sustainable technologies, including the electric vehicle and energy storage markets
- The successful production of the NdFeB alloy adds another dimension to the company’s plans to build a large-scale metals production facility
- Australian Strategic Materials is up 5.51 per cent to $4.02
Australian Strategic Materials (ASM) has produced six kilograms of a neodymium iron boron (NdFeB) alloy with the Korean Institute of Rare Metals (KIRAM).
The key permanent magnet alloy was made from a neodymium-iron alloy produced by ASM’s metallisation pilot plant.
Growing market
The key materials for the alloy were taken from ASM’s 100 per cent-owned Dubbo rare earths project in New South Wales.
The company and its partners are working towards oxide separation and metallisation technologies which will add value to the raw materials produced from the project.
There is growing demand for rare earths to supply a diverse range of emerging and sustainable technologies, including the electric vehicle and energy storage markets.
Though ASM is still in the early stages of product testing and certification, the production of the NdFeB sample is a significant milestone.
The alloy, which combines NdFeB in a 32:67:1 ratio, has been certified by KIRAM, confirming its suitability for rare earth permanent magnet production.
Along with ASM’s other technologies under development — including energy-efficient titanium production which needs 70 per cent less power than conventional techniques — the production of permanent magnet alloys adds further potential for the globally significant Dubbo project.
ASM Managing Director David Woodall says production of the NdFeB alloy is a significant step for the company.
“The successful production of this NdFeB alloy is an important milestone for ASM, and paves the way for integrating production of key rare earth permanent magnet alloys into our developing metals business,” David said.
“In the coming months, we’ll produce further sample permanent magnets for the Korean market review,” he continued.
Next steps
ASM is now seeking certification for the alloy as it prepares another seven-kilogram sample to convert into permanent magnet samples for evaluation by Korean industry.
The company has plans to develop a continuous metals production facility in 2021 to scale-up the processes developed at its pilot plant.
With the production of the NdFeB alloy, the potential facility would add another string to its bow. The company has already successfully developed refining processes for titanium, neodymium, praseodymium, dysprosium and zirconium metals — all sourced from Dubbo.
David Woodall says the company’s priority is the development of the production facility, and getting its wares to market.
“ASM is now focused on assessing the potential for development of a metals processing plant in Korea,” David said.
“In addition to laying the foundation for a potential metals business, which would include metals from our Dubbo Project, we continue to progress offtake and strategic partner agreements,” he added.
Australian Strategic Materials is up 5.51 per cent to $4.02 at 12:31 pm AEDT.
