Sustainable metals for infrastructure and electromobility
Vanadium is considered a strategic metal critical to the nation’s defense and growing infrastructure because of its necessity in steel production, and in energy storage applications such as vanadium redox flow batteries (VRFBs).
The key demand driver is as an additive in steelmaking. The natural organic growth in steel production coupled with the vital role of vanadium in the transition to lighter weight and higher strength steels has placed significant demand pressure on ferrovanadium manufacturers. The addition of just 0.2% vanadium to steel can potentially increase its strength up to 100% and reduces weight in relevant applications by up to 30%. Outside of steel, vanadium plays a critical role in strengthening rebar where there is increasing vanadium intensity due to changes in building standards, particularly in areas prone to earthquakes.
Grid scale battery usage is the next growth area for vanadium. The key driver is the adoption of VRFB’s that have the capacity for multi-megawatt scale storage - this makes them useful for grid scale applications, including grid balancing, and storing energy from variable output sources, including wind turbines and solar cells. The batteries are inherently simple in design and rely on the changing redox state of the vanadium electrolyte to store and then supply power.
Molybdenum is consumed in a wide range of metallurgical applications, from chemical, low-alloy steels and cast irons through to stainless steels, tool steels and super alloys. Our high purity and solubility Molybdenum is widely used for Molybdenum based catalyst. An important component in the process of refining fossil fuels and the reduction of sulfur emissions.
Our recycling process creates a closed loop for Molybdenum. As Molybdenum based catalyst become spent, our patented recycling process reclaims this valuable metal and supplies it back to the fresh catalyst manufacturing process; eventually it is used in the refining process and back to us. This closed loop cycle supports a sustainable environment and reduces emission created by traditional Molybdenum mining and provides economic benefit to its users.
Nickel is primarily used in the steelmaking industry and plating applications. Approximately 78% of global demand comes from stainless steel and alloys while plating comprises 8%. Marketable forms of nickel include sulfate, hydroxide, and carbonate. The major end uses of nickel sulfate are electroplating, and electroless plating.
Cobalt is an important raw material in the production of superalloys, high-temperature alloys, cutting tools, magnetic materials, and petrochemical catalysts. There are a numerous marketable forms of cobalt, including cobalt sulfate, cobalt chloride, cobalt oxalate, cobalt carbonate, and cobalt monoxide.