Australian Strategic Materials Ltd’s (ASX:ASM) (OTCMKTS:ASMMF) titanium powder has been confirmed by Korean 3D printing group HANA AMT as being of high purity, paving the way for its use in 3D printing.
Advanced manufacturing company HANA AMT performed a detailed analysis of 20 kilograms of the titanium powder and confirmed a purity of 99.918%.
The titanium metal powder assayed came from a run of 75 kilograms produced by ASM’s Ziron Tech team at the ASM metallisation pilot plant in South Korea during January 2021.
a) 20kg titanium metal ingot produced by ASM, b) Creation of Ti metal powder, c) HANA AMT 3D-printed metal products
Environmental benefits
HANA AMT’s work has also confirmed the strong environmental benefits of ASM’s novel metal process.
ASM and HANA AMT have signed a nondisclosure agreement as they progress negotiations towards an initial 1,500 tonne per year offtake agreement for titanium metal powder.
Contributing to the progress of this agreement, the independent assay analysis of ASM’s titanium powders demonstrated encouraging comparison with industry standards.
Assay Comparison completed by HANA AMT * ASTM B299 – Standard Specification for Titanium
Discussions with potential offtake partners
ASM managing director David Woodall said: “This independent review of ASM’s titanium metal powder is a great validation of our patented metal process, confirming the high purity and the environmental benefits of the metal ASM can produce for the manufacturing sector in Korea.
“We look forward to progressing negotiations and continuing discussions with other potential offtake and strategic partners during our time in Korea.
“Our team continues to work closely with the Korean Institute of Rare Metals (KIRAM) to produce sample permanent magnets for the Korean market to review over the coming weeks.
“This is a promising start of the year, with 2021 a foundation year for ASM, as we progress our vision to become a fully integrated critical metals producer – supplying metals from the mine direct to manufacturers, through the delivery of the Dubbo Project and the establishment of our metals business.”