NioCorp Developments Ltd., Centennial, Colo., and IBC Advanced Alloys, Vancouver, announce that they have entered into a joint development agreement to investigate and develop applications for scandium-containing alloys of aluminum and other metals for multiple downstream markets. The joint development agreement signals their intent to collaborate to ensure a reliable and secure U.S. supply of scandium and to catalyze greater scandium use across a variety of industries. Scandium is a transition metal (element #21) that can benefit industries such as commercial aviation, automotive, precision manufacturing, defense, electronics, and others.
When alloyed with aluminum, for example, scandium can increase strength and weldability of structures in commercial airliners, which in turn can reduce weight, fuel consumption, and emissions. ONG Commodities LLC has estimated that $1.0 to $1.5 million of scandium oxide in a Boeing 737NG single-aisle airliner can offer $10 to $15 million of net present value in fuel savings alone.
Scandium is seldom used today because global production is severely constrained and unreliable. The U.S. Geological Survey recently estimated that only 10 to 15 metric tons per year of scandium are now produced. However, independent experts such as ONG estimate that latent demand in the aerospace and solid oxide fuel cell sectors alone is several hundred metric tons per year.
NioCorp expects to come online as one of the world’s leading producers of scandium from its Superalloy Materials Project in Elk Creek, Nebraska, potentially producing as much as 97 metric tons/year. IBC produces high-performance alloys in a range of product forms for multiple industries and platforms, including cast components for the F-35 Joint Strike Fighter.
The President of IBC Engineered Materials, Chris Huskamp, will be leading the joint development effort for IBC. Mr. Huskamp is a former Boeing Associate Technical Fellow in advanced metallic processes who is credited as a named co-inventor of two pending patents regarding scandium-bearing aluminum alloys.
Scott Honan, Vice President of Business Development of NioCorp and President of Elk Creek Resources Corp., will manage the initiative for NioCorp. Mr. Honan is leading the effort to develop and build NioCorp’s niobium/scandium/titanium mine and processing facility in Nebraska, and has more than a decade of experience in producing advanced materials for high-performance alloys.
