London-based Rio Tinto (L:RIO) has signed an agreement to provide the first commercial batch of aluminum-scandium alloy to Amaero, a leader in metal additive manufacturing.
The alloy - given the brand name of Element North 21 - will be delivered by the Rio Tinto Fer et Titane metallurgical complex in Sorel-Tracy, Que. The delivery will be made as alloy billets, and Amaero will process them into powder for high temperature 3D printing applications. The lightweight material will find applications in the aerospace, defence and other industries.
A new scandium oxide plant is under construction at the complex, which will be the first North American supply source, says Rio. The plant will use feed from the waste streams of titanium dioxide production using an innovative process developed by Rio's own scientists.
The US$6-million first phase of the plant is expected to begin production in the second quarter of 2021. It will have an initial capacity to make 3.0 tonnes of scandium oxide annually, or 20% of the current global market. The plant can be modularly expanded as demand warrants.