A Blog for Browsing Mining, Mineral Processing, and Metals Info

Singapore (Platts)–17Dec2014/345 am EST/845 GMT

China plans to scrap import taxes on ferronickel and ferrochrome containing more than 4% carbon, starting January 1, 2015, according to a notice dated December 12, on the Chinese finance ministry website. Import tax on both products are currently at 1%. Market observers expect China’s import of ferronickel to increase with the scrapping of the import tax.

Read more at: http://www.platts.com/latest-news/metals/singapore/china-to-scrap-ferronickel-ferrochrome-import-27942902

Schematic of the preparation of a 3-D hierarchically structured graphene-sulfur/carbonZIF8-D composite

What do you get when you wrap a thin sheet of the “wonder material” graphene around a novel multifunctional sulfur electrode that combines an energy storage unit and electron/ion transfer networks? An extremely promising electrode structure design for rechargeable lithium-sulfur batteries.

Read more at: http://phys.org/news/2014-12-future-batteries-lithium-sulfur-graphene-wrapper.html#jCp

The demand for additive manufacturing (or 3D printing, depending on your preference) using metal powders is growing rapidly. Consider that last year the number of metal-based production systems sold increased 75.8 per cent, according to May’s Wohlers Report. And the quality of what’s being made from machines, though there’s room for improvement, is going up rapidly.

– See more at: http://www.france-metallurgie.com/index.php/2014/12/15/australian-industry-takes-its-next-step-into-metal-based-additive-manufacturing-us/#sthash.TnzIO8mW.dpuf

Don’t expect U.S. coin compositions to change any time soon, and never for the penny. There are “no alternative metal compositions that reduce the manufacturing unit cost of the penny below its face value,” according to the United States Mint 2014 Biennial Report to Congress on the research and development (R&D) of alternative metals for circulating coins.

Read more at: http://www.coinnews.net/2014/12/15/us-mint-not-recommending-new-coin-compositions/

Absorbing material can be used in airplane coating for reducing radar reflection and reducing radar signature, to improve mission success rate,   survival probability of warplanes and stealth operations in enemy range. Therefore, it will be of great significance in developing new type absorbing materials.

According to loss mechanism, microwave absorption can be divided into resistor type, dielectric type and magnetic medium type. Based on resonance and magnetic hysteresis loss principle, magnetic medium absorber can be used in reducing electromagnetic wave, in which the representative materials mainly include ferrite and micro metal powder. Micro metal powder mainly includes carbonyl iron powder, carbonyl nickel powder, permalloy, cobalt nickel alloy and so on.

Read more at: http://tttmetalpowder.com/produce-absorbing-coating-using-carbonyl-iron-powder/

The U.S. Department of Energy (DOE) has issued the Advanced Nuclear Energy Projects loan guarantee solicitation, which provides as much as $12.5 billion to support innovative nuclear energy projects. With the issuance of this solicitation, the DOE’s Loan Programs Office (LPO) now has open solicitations in four areas, also including the $8 billion Advanced Fossil Energy Projects Solicitation, the $4 billion Renewable Energy and Efficient Energy Projects Solicitation, and the $16 billion Advanced Technology Vehicle Manufacturing (ATVM) loan program.

Read more at: http://www.pennenergy.com/articles/pennenergy/2014/12/doe-offers-12-5b-in-advanced-nuclear-energy-project-funding.html

AMR’s Ban Phuc nickel mine and plant – one of the world’s few new sources of nickel sulphide – went into commercial production in June last year.

Read more at: http://www.mining.com/vietnams-emerging-nickel-sulphide-district-66401/

Director of Glencore’s nickel commodity department, Kenny Ives, said “”With nickel demand growth projected at a conservative 4.5% per year, the market is expected to transition to deficit, with substantial deficits forecast from 2018”.

Read more at: http://www.platts.com/latest-news/metals/london/glencore-sees-global-nickel-market-moving-from-26957442 

Dec 10 (Reuters) – A Philippine miner partly owned by Canada’s TVI Pacific Inc is looking to build what could be the Southeast Asian country’s third nickel processing plant ahead of a possible ban on exports of unprocessed ore, a Manila-based spokesman said.

Read more at: http://www.reuters.com/article/2014/12/10/philippines-tvi-pacific-nickel-idUSL3N0TU1ZH20141210

Pratt & Whitney will invest a billion dollars in research and development over the next 4.5 years at its plants in Mississauga, Ontario and Longueuil, Que. That includes a $300 million contribution rom Ottawa, which the government describes as “repayable.”

Read more at: http://www.cbc.ca/news/business/pratt-whitney-deal-the-latest-example-of-ottawa-s-r-d-focus-1.2864659