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

Prices for natural flake #Graphite have risen in recent weeks as the market tightens, with the largest increases seen in grades above 95% C. A new round of processing plant closures has been reported in #Shandong, which compounded already existing supply problems in the Province following drought conditions through the summer and limitations on the use of dynamite for mining. As well as affecting battery grades, the closures have resulted in higher prices for larger flake graphite used in expandable/expanded graphite and refractories.

Read more at: https://roskill.com/news/graphite-flake-prices-rising-china-higher-demand-environmental-closures/

The #London Metal Exchange’s new #Cobalt contract is likely to be for a chemical compound vital for the manufacture of the batteries used in the fast-growing electric vehicle sector, its chief executive Matt Chamberlain told Reuters on Tuesday.

The exchange is planning to launch a suite of contracts including cash-settled cobalt sulphate, lithium, hot rolled coil steel, alumina and aluminum contracts in one go in 18 months to two years.

Read more at: https://www.reuters.com/article/us-commodities-summit-lme-cobalt/lme-poised-to-join-electric-car-revolution-with-cobalt-sulphate-contract-idUSKBN1CF27H

Prices for #Cobalt sulphate are often based on those for refined metal published by Metal Bulletin. The #London Metal Exchange’s cobalt contract is also for refined metal.

But demand for cobalt sulphate is expected to outpace that for the metal over coming years as governments around the world move to replace diesel- and petrol-powered engines with batteries to meet targets for cutting vehicle emissions.

A cobalt trader said sulphate prices earlier this year were trading at a premium of more than $5 a lb to the metal, which started the year around $14 a lb and has since more than doubled to nine-year highs above $30 a lb.

Read more at: https://www.reuters.com/article/us-cobalt-pricing-evs/electric-cars-prompt-consultants-cru-to-explore-cobalt-sulphate-index-idUSKBN1CB1MF

#SolarEnergy can be stored by converting it into hydrogen. But current methods are too expensive and don’t last long. Using commercially available solar cells and none of the usual rare metals, researchers have now designed a device that outperforms in stability, efficiency and cost.

The method, which surpasses previous efforts in terms of stability, performance, lifespan and cost efficiency, is published in the Journal of The Electrochemical Society. “A 12-14 m² system installed in Switzerland would allow the generation and storage of enough hydrogen to power a fuel cell car over 10,000 km every year,” says Christophe Ballif, who co-authored the paper.

The key here is making the most of existing components, and using a ‘hybrid’ type of crystalline-silicon solar cell based on heterojunction technology. The researchers’ sandwich structure — using layers of crystalline silicon and amorphous silicon — allows for higher voltages. And this means that just three of these cells, interconnected, can already generate an almost ideal voltage for electrolysis to occur. The electrochemical part of the process requires a catalyst made from nickel, which is widely available.

Read more at: https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2016/08/160825084720.htm

#Outokumpu is introducing a #Graphite electrode upcharge for all stainless steel products with immediate effect, the #Finnish producer said Wednesday.

“The tight supply situation within the graphite electrodes market has led to limited global availability of graphite electrodes and sharp increases in their prices. This has in turn led to significant increase in the production costs of stainless steel,” the company said in a statement.

Read more at: https://www.platts.com/latest-news/metals/london/outokumpu-adds-graphite-electrode-upcharge-to-26811230

World number one mining company #BHP said 2017 will go down in history as the year when key changes took place in the #ElectricCars market, making them more accessible to customers and so boosting demand for commodities from #Copper to #Nickel.

BHP recently revealed plants to transform itself into the world’s biggest suppliers of #Nickel sulphate — a key component in #Lithium-ion batteries that power electric cars.

The company is spending $43 million on a plant in Australia that will generate 100,000 tonnes of sulphate per year and which is expected to begin production by April 2019.

Read more at: http://www.mining.com/bhp-says-2017-tipping-point-electric-cars/

#Germany’s #Volkswagen is moving to secure long-term supplies of #Cobalt, a vital component of rechargeable batteries, as the group accelerates its ambitious shift to electric cars. Cobalt industry sources told #Reuters that #VW, the world’s largest automaker, has asked producers to submit proposals on supplying the material for up to 10 years from 2019.

Read more at: http://www.euronews.com/2017/09/22/exclusive-volkswagen-moves-to-secure-cobalt-supplies-in-shift-to-electric-cars

Thanks to QUT, #Australia’s first facility to produce commercial grade #Lithium-ion batteries is up and running.

It is the only place in the country capable of making the batteries – which are in the same format as those used to power #Tesla cars – because of it’s low humidity electro-manufacturing dry rooms.

“Importantly, as part of this project we identified the best lithium-based powders to use to create a battery of the highest energy-efficiency standards possible,” said Professor Peter Talbot from QUT’s Institute for Future Environments.

Read more at: https://www.gizmodo.com.au/2017/09/scientists-just-manufactured-australias-first-lithium-ion-battery/

#China’s aggressive environmental protection campaign has tightened supplies of #Graphite electrodes used in steelmaking, boosting the fortunes of big producers like Fangda Carbon as mills search far and wide for a material now in short supply.

#Beijing’s campaign for clearer skies has closed thousands of mills and mines producing low-quality steel and coal, and makers of electrodes, particularly those near big cities, have not been spared.

Read more at: http://www.reuters.com/article/us-china-steel-graphiteelectrode/the-graphite-fix-inside-chinas-newest-commodity-addiction-idUSKCN1BW0S2

Read more at: https://phys.org/news/2017-09-graphene-carbon-nanomaterials-scarce-metals.html#jCp