Scandium International Update on Results from Eck Industries Testing of Scandium in Alloys
Scandium International Update on Results from Eck
Industries Testing of Scandium in Alloys
Reno, Nevada--(Newsfile Corp. - February 19, 2019) - Scandium International Mining Corp
.
(
TSX: SCY
)
("Scandium
International" or the "Company"
) is pleased to provide a second update on select aluminum casting trial results undertaken
by Eck Industries Inc.
("Eck"),
employing scandium provided by SCY. These trial results demonstrate unique properties from a
new aluminum casting alloy, employing cerium and scandium, that shows superior resistance to permanent strength erosion in
high heat environments.
SCY announced a Letter of Intent
("LOI")
with Eck in Q2 2018, and announced preliminary scandium testing results in Q4 2018.
This press release reflects further technical disclosure on the ongoing testing programs.
Eck is an industry leader in sophisticated casting systems and high-performance aluminum casting materials, currently supplying
cast parts to commercial aircraft, automotive/transport, military and marine propulsion systems customers, from its facilities in
Manitowoc, Wisconsin.
Eck is currently focused on improving high temperature stability in certain casting parts they
manufacture, and has filed patent applications on a novel alloy exhibiting superior heat tolerance properties, using cerium, and
scandium.
HIGHLIGHTS OF NEW ALLOY CASTING RESULTS:
New aluminum casting alloy employing cerium and scandium shows superior resistance to permanent strength erosion in
high temperature environments.
Cerium additions inhibited inter-granular corrosion, a known problem area in high magnesium content aluminum alloy
variants.
Significant scandium strength gains observed (both ambient and post-heat exposure).
New alloy is highly castable, using standard commercial processes.
Eck VP Engineering/R&D (David Weiss) to present findings at TMS Conference in March 2019
George Putnam, CEO of Scandium International Mining Corp. commented:
"The R&D team at Eck Industries has made an important advance in high temperature aluminium alloys with their cerium-
scandium casting alloy.
They have taken collaborative early work with Department of Energy affiliated researchers on cerium,
and combined that with their previous scandium work and testing, to create a new and superior temperature-tolerant alloy.
A new
aluminum alloy that extends those temperature range limits is then highly valuable, where higher cost alternatives such as
titanium or stainless steel can be avoided.
We expect the aluminium casting industry to follow this rapidly developing work with
great interest."
David Weiss, VP Engineering/R&D at Eck Industries commented:
"Our research to date suggests that scandium in combination with magnesium and cerium in aluminum offers excellent stability
at elevated temperatures. We continue to develop these systems to maximize performance and minimize cost for structural
applications in transportation, aerospace and the military."
DISCUSSION
Researchers at the Department of Energy's Oak Ridge National Laboratory, in partnership with Lawrence Livermore National
Laboratory and Wisconsin-based Eck Industries announced in 2016 the development of an aluminum alloy containing significant
quantities of cerium (8-10%) that demonstrates significantly higher heat tolerance than existing alloys used today.
David Weiss, VP Engineering/R&D at Eck Industries was a part of that work, and has continued development with an aim to
commercialize the results for Eck customers.
Importantly, Weiss has demonstrated that a combination of cerium, magnesium
and scandium, can both increase cast aluminum alloy strength and dramatically extend alloy temperature tolerance.
Temperature testing and strength recovery includes a 350⁰C temperature bake for 100 hours, to determine permanent strength
reduction after cool-down.
This exposure is well beyond the survival limit of typical casting alloys, and is a serious test for the
best high temperature alloys available today.
Early results show this cerium-magnesium-scandium alloy fully recovers 100% of yield strength after the hi-temp test,
dramatically outperforming standard cast alloys, and also premium high-temperature alloys such as AA201.
These results
represent exceptional high-temperature stability from a commercially castable aluminum alloy.
High temperature alloys are essential materials in aerospace, automotive, and marine powerplant applications, and in a host of
other high temperature systems.
Aluminum alloys tend to be the preferred economic choice, provided the application allows
them to remain within their high temperature range limits.
The 2016 research work findings on cerium's positive influence on inter-granular corrosion in magnesium-containing alloys also
holds significant value, particularly in marine applications.
The marine alloy certified for use today is a 5000 series (containing
magnesium), where SCY has previously shown scandium additions can deliver further significant strength benefits.
David Weiss has been invited to present Eck Industries' findings on this cast alloy program at the 2019 TMS Annual Meeting
and Exhibition, in San Antonio, Texas, in mid-March.
ABOUT SCANDIUM INTERNATIONAL MINING CORP.
The Company is focused on developing its Nyngan Scandium Project, located in NSW, Australia, into the world's first scandium-
only producing mine.
The project owned by our 100% held Australian subsidiary, EMC Metals Australia Pty Limited, has
received all key approvals, including a mining lease, necessary to proceed with project construction.
The Company filed a NI 43-101 technical report in May 2016, titled
"Feasibility Study - Nyngan Scandium Project"
.
That
feasibility study delivered an expanded scandium resource, a first reserve figure, and an estimated 33.1% IRR on the project,
supported by extensive metallurgical test work and an independent, 10-year global marketing outlook for scandium demand.
Willem Duyvesteyn, MSc, AIME, CIM, a Director and CTO of the Company, is a qualified person for the purposes of NI 43-101
and has reviewed and approved the technical content of this press release on behalf of the Company.
For inquiries to Scandium International Mining Corp, please contact:
Edward Dickinson (CFO)
Tel: (775) 233-7328
George Putnam (CEO)
Tel: (925) 208-1775
Email:
For inquiries to Eck Industries, Inc., please contact:
Dr. David Weiss, VP Engineering/R&D, (Manitowoc)
Phone:
920-682-4618
Email:
Website:
www.eckindustries.com
This press release contains forward-looking statements about the Company and its business. Forward looking statements are
statements that are not historical facts and include, but are not limited to statements regarding any future development of the
project. The forward-looking statements in this press release are subject to various risks, uncertainties and other factors that
could cause the Company's actual results or achievements to differ materially from those expressed in or implied by forward
looking statements. These risks, uncertainties and other factors include, without limitation: risks related to uncertainty in the
demand for scandium, the possibility that results of test work will not fulfill expectations, or not realize the perceived market
utilization and potential of scandium sources that may be developed for sale by the Company. Forward-looking statements
are based on the beliefs, opinions and expectations of the Company's management at the time they are made, and other
than as required by applicable securities laws, the Company does not assume any obligation to update its forward-looking
statements if those beliefs, opinions or expectations, or other circumstances, should change.
To view the source version of this press release, please visit
https://www.newsfilecorp.com/release/42887