Australian Strategic Materials Ltd’s (ASX:ASM) high-purity neodymium-iron-boron (NdFeB) powder from its Ziron Tech pilot plant in Korea has been used by the Korean Institute of Rare Metals (KIRAM) to produce rare earth permanent magnets.
KIRAM produced two kilograms of pre-sintered permanent magnets and has carried out successful tests, confirming the magnetic properties and quality.
This testing provides a strong indication that ASM’s NdFeB alloy is suitable to produce rare earth permanent magnets that are commercially in demand.
It is further validation of ASM’s strategy to become an independent, fully integrated ‘mine to manufacturer’ producer of critical metals.
“Truly significant result”
ASM managing director David Woodall said: “The excellent support and collaborative work between the Ziron Tech and KIRAM teams delivered a truly significant result.
“It provides ASM with confidence that our integrated business model – from the Dubbo Project to metals production – can play an important part in the Korean Government’s ‘New Green Deal’.”
Progress on Korean plant
Woodall said: “We now have confirmation of the quality and high purity of the permanent magnet alloy and titanium powders ASM can deliver to the Korean industry and eventually the global markets.
“ASM is now planning to advance in the next few months with the detailed engineering, incorporating both the recently produced titanium and now the permanent magnet powders as part of an initial 5,200 tonnes per year plant in Korea, projected to be fully operational by mid-2022.
“This is a very significant transition for the company as we continue to progress the development of the Dubbo Project in the central-western, NSW.”
Testing methodology
KIRAM scientists made a strip-cast sample using five kilograms of the NdFeB powder produced by ASM’s Ziron Tech team.
The strip was then examined using scanning electron microscopy (SEM) and Energy Dispersive X-Ray Spectroscopy (EDS) to confirm the microstructure and magnetic orientation.
Some of the Ziron Tech NdFeB alloy was pressed into a 2-kilogram block to measure the magnetic characteristics using Vibrating Sample Magnetometry and compared with a similar sample made from a commercially available alloy.
These tests indicated that ASM’s pre-sintered magnet exhibited superior magnetic properties than the commercial sample.