SCY Announces Joint Program with Eck Industries to Demonstrate Impacts of Cerium and Scandium Additions IN Aluminum Alloys
NEWS RELEASE
TSX: SCY
February 27, 2020
NR 20-03
www.scandiummining.com
SCY ANNOUNCES JOINT PROGRAM WITH ECK INDUSTRIES TO
DEMONSTRATE IMPACTS OF CERIUM AND SCANDIUM ADDITIONS
IN ALUMINUM ALLOYS
Reno, Nevada, February 2 7, 20 20 – Scandium International Mining Corp . (TSX:SCY)
(“Scandium International” or the “Company”) is pleased to announce it has signed a Program
Agreement with Eck Industries (“ECK”) located in Manitowoc, Wisconsin, to pursue novel alloy
development of a combined cerium -scandium aluminum alloy, based on previous work done
independently by the companies in this area.
The companies intend to pursue alloy refinements in both wrought and cast alloy applications,
specifically targeting property improvements related to strength, corrosion resistance , and heat-
working tolerance, principally in A5000 series alloys.
PROGRAM HIGHLIGHTS:
• Joint economic and technical support to alloy design,
• Joint sharing of previous data, and new data produced from this program,
• Samples production for customer trials, either as cast products, or wrought sample
shapes for various potential customers and alloy manufacturers,
• Initial high value application expected to be in marine applications, and
• Program work is protected by existing patent applications filed by ECK,
DISCUSSION
Eck Industries has been working both independently and with the Critical Materials Institute, a
Department of Energy Program that brings together four national laboratories, seven universities
and ten industrial partners to remove impediments to the commercialization of clean energy
technologies to develop A5000 series aluminum alloys with cerium additions, predominantly for
shape-casting applications, reflecting Eck’s core manufacturing business. This work is covered
by patents and patent applications, and has demonstrated novel alloy compositions that are
superior in terms of heat-working tolerance, well beyond typical aluminum castable alloy
performance. Key results have been previously publicly disclosed by Eck.
SCY has been working for a number of years to develop A5000 series aluminum alloys with
scandium additions, predominantly for wrought sheet and extrusion applications, to support use
in aerospace, automotive and marine applications.
SCY and ECK have recognized, after comparing data, that cerium and scandium both improve
similar properties in A5000 series (magnesium family) alloys, but they do so in different ways and
to differing degrees, a nd they are typically additive in combination. This has led the two
companies to recognize that the target property improvements we were each seeking could
potentially be reached through combinations of these additives and combination of our respective
R&D programs. The companies initially formed an association through a letter of intent in 2018,
founded on interest in scandium for cast alloy applications. T his current program represents a
maturation of the thinking around how well cerium and scandium can be combined to both improve
strength and improve properties beyond thresholds that effectively limit aluminum alloy use today.
These improvements are now recognized as potentially applicable in all forms of aluminum alloy
use; cast, wrought, and extrusion.
George Putnam, CEO of Scandium International Mining Corp. commented:
“This is a truly exciting program because it investigates the synergistic impact of two winning alloy
additives for aluminium, and shows every promise of breaking boundaries in important areas.
These alloys won’t make challenging production demands on alloy producers, and we see
numerous high volume existing applications where they can represent a b etter, property-driven,
alloy choice.”
David Weiss, VP Engineering & Technology, Eck Industries Inc. commented:
“We have been pursuing scandium as an alloy additive almost as long as we have been pursuing
cerium. Cerium has proven to be a really novel change in the casting space, and scandium
represents a powerful enhancement to that change. This program brings us an expanded
understanding of scandium behavior, but also more tightly aligns us with a group that has
scandium market understanding that extends well outside our traditional casting environment.”
ABOUT ECK INDUSTRIES INC.
Eck Industries Inc. was founded in 1948 (as Eck Foundries) to service orders from Harley-
Davidson, Wisconsin Motors, West Bend Outboard and Johnson Motors. Today Eck Industries
operates a 210,000 sq. ft. facility with over 250 employees, and 110 customers, shape-casting
commercial aircraft parts, automotive and trucking cast parts, military drivetrain casings, marine
propulsion system castings, and military aerospace components.
Eck is known in the casting industry as an innovator. They employ over seven different molding
techniques, including gravity feed, precision low pressure systems, permanent mold casting,
and direct squeeze casting.
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: [email protected]
For inquiries to Eck Industries, Inc., please contact:
David Weiss (VP Engineering/Technology)
Tel: (920-682-4618 )
Email: [email protected]
This press release contains forward -looking statements about the Company and its business.
Forward looking statements are statements that are not historical facts and i nclude, 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 a chievements 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 o f 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.