Minor Metals essential elements for today s world Maria Cox General Manager, MMTA
What is the MMTA? Founded in 1973 when by-product metals were just starting to be used in growing mass applications Necessary to establish clear trading rules - the MMTA was formed to guide and inform those involved in the nascent minor metals industry Today s MMTA is made up of circa 150 consumers, producers, traders and service companies, who are engaged in the minor metals industry in all its forms Members from across the globe with around 100 in Europe
Some MMTA Members
What are Minor Metals? 49 metals covered by the MMTA today Including nickel 7 minor metals in 1973
What are Minor Metals? Minor metals are defined as those metals, predominantly by-product metals, that are not exchange traded They are lower volume, often higher value metals, critical to a multitude of sectors Major minors several hundred thousand tonnes of annual production, eg tungsten, cobalt, titanium, magnesium Minor minors the smallest only tens of tonnes annually, eg hafnium at only 55 tonnes
Applications of Minor Metals Some industries that have led the application of minor metals - and thus also the trade in them include: Aerospace Automotive Medical Optics Consumer electronics Catalysts Batteries Renewable energy technologies
A Key Component of Resource Efficiency Image Source: Metals Pro Climate
Minor Metals & CRMs The MMTA is part of the Critical Raw Materials Alliance Advocating the importance of materials benefiting both economic and defence interests of the EU Supporting EU innovation and value added capabilities 13 of the current 20 CRMs are metals covered by the MMTA
Case studies The following case studies will focus on the properties, applications, supply and issues facing the metal: Cobalt Indium Gallium Bismuth
Cobalt Cobalt is a hard, shiny and greyish metal with a high melting point (1493 C) which retains its strength to a high temperature. It is ferromagnetic as well as corrosion resistant, and its unique properties mean it has many strategic and irreplaceable industrial uses. Cobalt is primarily a by-product of copper and nickel production, with around 60% coming from Central Africa. The remainder is found in Australasia, Americas, Russia, as well as smaller deposits from the ROW Its unique properties make it an essential element of many applications: as an alloying element for jet engine and electrical power generation turbines In replacement joints, and in cutting and drilling tools
Cobalt In permanent magnets for ABS breaking systems in automobiles It is also used in pigments, semi-conductors and solar and wind power technologies The biggest use of cobalt, however, is in rechargeable batteries A technology enabler, cobalt is used mostly in industrial environments and is indispensable in many metallurgical and chemical applications It cannot be substituted in most of its key applications and is an important part of our everyday lives Socio-economic impacts of any proposed restrictions in the use of cobalt should be fully understood
Indium Indium is a soft, silvery metal with a resistance to moisture It is mined as a by-product of zinc, lead, tin and copper and is extracted during their production in refineries in France, South Korea, Japan, Canada, South America and China. There is a fast and efficient process to reprocess ITO scrap to return secondary indium to the global market Around 55% of world demand is for flat screen displays, with the remainder being used in a range of other mechanical and electronics applications including compound semi-conductors, fiber optics, low melting point alloys, energy storage, nuclear control rods, LED lighting and solar panels
Indium Despite being a CRM, the indium industry is confident that there is no shortage of indium either worldwide or within Europe. Although an increasing number of coated screens are being collected from end-of-life products, more needs to be done to economically recover the indium from these products. There is concern that the EU s self-sufficiency is being jeopardized by tariff barriers Encouragement for greater European primary production, as well as investment in economically viable recovery technologies from the growing number of EOL products should be a European focus
Gallium Gallium is a soft, silvery-white metal with a melting point of around 30 C. It is therefore in hotter countries the 2 nd liquid metal along with mercury With a boiling point of 2200 C, it has the longest liquid range of all metals It is found in trace amounts in bauxite ore from aluminium production, as well as in zinc, with around 80% primary production coming from China, as well as recovery also from Canada, Germany, Japan and the UK
Gallium Its main use is in the manufacture of gallium arsenide, used in electronics, particularly in radio frequency chipsets in mobile and satellite communications, in display screen LEDs, automotive and lighting applications, as well as sensors in avionic, space and defence systems It is a key element used in semi-conductors Gallium is used in industrial environments and associated risks of gallium-arsenide are carefully controlled It is non-substitutable in its key high-tech applications
Bismuth Bismuth is a brittle, white metal tinged with pink. It also forms beautiful multi-coloured crystals. It is mainly a by-product of lead and copper, but also tungsten, tin, silver and gold production. It is found in Australia, Bolivia, China, Peru, Mexico and Canada. Because it is such a brittle metal, it is used as an alloy with lead, tin, iron or cadmium to form low-melting alloys used in a variety of galvanisation processes, and in automatic fire sprinkler systems, fire detection systems and electrical fuses. It is used in ceramic glazes and pigments and to give a pearly effect in make-up. It is also used in pharmaceuticals as an indigestion remedy.
Bismuth Large stockpiles of bismuth and other minor metals, including indium, are held on the controversial Fanya Exchange in China. It is estimated that over 200,000 Chinese investors have several billion dollars tied up in investments in Fanya. Investors were promised unsustainable returns on their investments which they are now unable to cash in, leading to fears that the exchange will collapse. If the stocks of bismuth held by Fanya were to be released onto the world market, it would have a dramatic impact on world prices.
Finally The MMTA works together with and on behalf of its Members, to promote the importance of minor metals and inform on the issues affecting their trade, availability and use. For more information, go to www.mmta.co.uk or contact maria@mmta.co.uk
MMTA Activities 1. MMTA Services MMTA approved warehouses, mediation & arbitration service, sampling guidelines, metal norms, conference, training courses and seminars. 2. Peer approval lets members do business with people they can trust. 3. Access to policy makers the MMTA s membership of key groups and networks allows members to ask questions and raise their concerns to policy makers and influencers. 4. Keep yourself informed the MMTA provides information on regulatory updates, topical issues, business opportunities, trade initiatives. 5. Promote your business the MMTA promotes the activities of its members and the importance of minor metals on its website, through the Crucible, at conferences, to policy makers and prospective business contacts. 6. Substantial discounts on all MMTA events for members, including the MMTA s International Minor Metals Conference, and on REACHReady services.