Water-shedding surfaces that are robust in harsh environments could have broad applications in many industries including energy, water, transportation, construction, and medicine. For example, condensation of water is a crucial part of many industrial processes, and condensers are found in most electric power plants and in desalination plants.

Hydrophobic materials — ones that prevent water from spreading over a surface, instead causing it to form droplets that easily fall away — can greatly enhance the efficiency of this process. But these materials have one major problem: Most employ thin polymer coatings that degrade when heated, and can easily be destroyed by wear.

MIT researchers have now come up with a new class of hydrophobic ceramics that can overcome these problems. These ceramic materials are highly hydrophobic, but are also durable in the face of extreme temperatures and rough treatment.

The work, by mechanical engineering postdoc Gisele Azimi and Associate Professor Kripa Varanasi, along with two graduate students and another postdoc, is described this week in the journal Nature Materials. Durability has always been a challenge for hydrophobic materials, Varanasi says — a challenge he says his team has now solved.

Ceramics are highly resistant to extreme temperatures, but they tend to be hydrophilic (water-attracting) rather than hydrophobic. The MIT team decided to try making ceramics out of a series of elements whose unique electronic structure might render the materials hydrophobic: the so-called rare earth metals, which are also known as the lanthanide series on the periodic table.

Since all of the rare earth metals have similar physico-chemical properties, the team expected that their oxides would behave uniformly in their interactions with water. “We thought they should all have similar properties for wetting, so we said, ‘Let’s do a systematic study of the whole series,’” says Varanasi, who is the Doherty Associate Professor of Ocean Utilization.

To test this hypothesis, they used powder oxides of 13 of the 14 members of that series (excluding one rare earth metal that is radioactive) and made pellets by compacting and heating them to nearly their melting point in order to fuse them into solid, ceramic form — a process called sintering.

Sure enough, when tested, all 13 of the rare earth oxide ceramics did display strong hydrophobic properties, as predicted. “We showed, for the first time, that there are ceramics that are intrinsically hydrophobic,” Varanasi says.

These rare earth oxides “are exotic materials, and interestingly their wetting properties have not been studied,” he says, adding that many of the properties of the entire series are not systematically documented in the scientific literature. “This paper also gives a whole host of the properties of rare-earth oxides.”

This includes, Azimi says, their morphology, surface chemistry, crystallographic structure, grain structure, sintering temperature and density — yielding “a catalog of information” about how to process and use these materials. The MIT researchers also showed that the materials have greater hardness than many others currently used in rough industrial settings.

Despite their name, rare earth metals are not particularly rare. “Some of them are as abundant as nickel or copper,” Azimi says — both of which are widely used industrially.

But separating rare earth metals from the minerals in which they are found can be costly and can leave toxic residues, so their production has been limited. China is currently the world’s major supplier of these elements, which have many high-tech applications.

The ceramic forms of rare earth oxides could be used either as coatings on various substrates, or in bulk form. Because their hydrophobicity is an intrinsic chemical property, Azimi says, “even if they are damaged, they can sustain their hydrophobic properties.”

To prove the point, the team exposed some of these ceramics to a steam environment, similar to what they would face in a power-plant condenser. Typical polymer-based hydrophobic coatings quickly degrade when exposed to steam, but the ceramics kept their hydrophobicity intact, Varanasi says. The materials sustained their hydrophobicity even after exposure to abrasion, as well as temperatures of 1,000 degrees Celsius, Azimi says

By coating nanotextured surfaces with these ceramics at MIT’s Microsystems Technology Laboratories, the team also demonstrated extreme water repellency where droplets bounced off the surface. “These materials therefore provide a pathway to make durable superhydrophobic surfaces as well, and these coatings can be fabricated using existing processes. This makes it amenable to retrofit existing facilities, Azimi says. Such extreme non-wetting properties coupled with durability could find applications in steam turbines and aircraft engines, for example.

Rare Earth Manufacturer & Supplier: Chinatungsten Online - http://www.chinatungsten.com
Tel.: 86 592 5129696; Fax: 86 592 5129797
Email: sales@chinatungsten.com
Tungsten News & Tungsten Prices, 3G Version: http://3g.chinatungsten.com
Tungsten News & Tungsten Prices, WML Version: http://m.chinatungsten.com

China exported 16,265 metric tons of rare-earth ore, metals and compounds in 2012, official data Tuesday showed.

That is a decline of 3.5% from 2011 and far short of the 2012 export quota of 30,966 tons.

In spite of China's near-total domination of the world's supply of rare earths, a collective name for 17 metals used in high-technology applications like mobile telephones and missile systems, prices have fallen sharply for more than a year owing to waning demand and ample supply.

The value of Chinese rare-earth exports fell 66.1% from a year earlier to $906 million, according to data from the Hong Kong-based China Customs Statistics Information Center.

In December alone, China exported 3,252 tons of rare-earth ore, metals and compounds, it said.

China's Ministry of Commerce last month set the first batch of rare-earth export quotas for 2013 at 15,501 tons saying it will account for around half the full-year quota. A senior industry official had earlier suggested that the 2013 full-year quota would be around the same as last year's.

Rare Earth Manufacturer & Supplier: Chinatungsten Online - http://www.chinatungsten.com
Tel.: 86 592 5129696; Fax: 86 592 5129797
Email: sales@chinatungsten.com
Tungsten News & Tungsten Prices, 3G Version: http://3g.chinatungsten.com
Tungsten News & Tungsten Prices, WML Version: http://m.chinatungsten.com

Some of the world’s most powerful magnets, not including electromagnets, are made from the rare-earth metals neodymium, samarium, or yttrium. As a result, Italian and Indian Research – Cheap and Safe Hydrogen Production are expensive, while magnets made of iron, ferrite magnets, are cheaper, but not nearly as strong.

Electric motors only function because of magnetism, and can be made up of arrangements of electromagnets and permanent magnets. By replacing ferrite magnets with neodymium magnets, an electric motor bound for an electric vehicle [EV] can be made smaller and lighter, weight being an important consideration in such an application.

In order to reduce dependency on rare-earth magnets, and therefore costs, Yaskawa Electric set out to produce an EV motor with a ferrite magnet core. The problem with the ferrite magnet, though, was strength, so Yaskawa had some work ahead of it to maximize the power output of the weaker core. First, the shape of the magnet had to be optimized to improve torque output.

Then, Yawaska made a change to the coil wiring itself. Instead of using the standard round-cross-section wiring, Yawaska switched to a rectangular-cross-sectioned wire, which stacks better on the rotor and stator. This resulted in a 30% increase in the number of windings they could put in the same space, increasing the power output over the standard round wire motor.

The resulting EV motor, about the same size as currently found in EVs and hybrids, weighs about 132 pounds and maxes out at 12,000 RPM. With a maximum power output of 80kW and 147 hp at zero rpm, the new motor fits in the range of what’s required for a small EV or hybrid vehicle.

By eliminating rare-earth magnets and combining new processing and optimization, the result is a cheaper motor, which would help to reduce costs of EVs and hybrids alike. Reducing costs would certainly help marketing these high-technology vehicles and help them gain acceptance in such a difficult market.

Rare Earth Manufacturer & Supplier: Chinatungsten Online - http://www.chinatungsten.com
Tel.: 86 592 5129696; Fax: 86 592 5129797
Email: sales@chinatungsten.com
Tungsten News & Tungsten Prices, 3G Version: http://3g.chinatungsten.com
Tungsten News & Tungsten Prices, WML Version: http://m.chinatungsten.com 

Although they might have archaic-sounding names to the public, dysprosium, terbium, europium, neodymium and yttrium because of their rarity hold the secret to future technology as well as the success of clean energy and they are preoccupying the most powerful nations of the world.

Gaining access to these elements is a priority for U.S. energy strategy, which sees that China controls 95 percent of the production of the so-called rare earths, which are used in wind turbines, solar panels and the batteries of electric and hybrid vehicles.

With that situation in mind, the U.S. Energy Department mobilized scientists and experts from business and academia to seek solutions, a team that will be part of the new Critical Materials Institute.

Iowa-based Ames Laboratory and its director, Alex King, are heading up the project, which will receive $120 million in financing over the next five years.

The main aim of the CMI in the short term will be to detect possible deposits of these metals in the United States, as well as to work with existing operations to ensure that they are viable.

King gave the example of the Mountain Pass mine in California, which for decades was the biggest supplier in the world for rare metals but had to close in 2002 due to environmental problems.

The mine reopened in 2010, although it is facing a difficult market situation given China’s exercise of price controls by restricting rare earth exports.

That practice has been denounced by the European Union, the United States and Japan, while China insists that its intention is to put the brakes on excessive production to lessen environmental damage.

Rare Earth Manufacturer & Supplier: Chinatungsten Online - http://www.chinatungsten.com
Tel.: 86 592 5129696; Fax: 86 592 5129797
Email: sales@chinatungsten.com
Tungsten News & Tungsten Prices, 3G Version: http://3g.chinatungsten.com
Tungsten News & Tungsten Prices, WML Version: http://m.chinatungsten.com

Colorado-based Molycorp Inc. has had nothing but trouble since it reopened the only U.S. rare earth mine a year ago.

Sinking prices have shafted its market value, its CEO Mark Smith departed last month, it’s the subject of an investigation by the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission, and it faces a lawsuit alleging citing engineering deficiencies at its Mountain Pass, Calif. mine, which Molycorp opened, after years of dormancy, to patriotic cheers last February.

With the plunge in its stock, various industrial companies may now be trying to acquire it at a bargain price to assure themselves a source of the vital metals currently controlled by China, which has a grip on 95 percent of the world’s supply. Manufacturers build rare earths into smartphones, computers, cars, hybrid and electric vehicles, wind turbines, missiles, light bulbs and many other products.

Suitors include German industrial giant Siemens as well as Japanese and South Korean car makers Nissan and Hyundai, according to a Bloomberg story early this month that cited several industry analysts.

“At this point, Molycorp is definitely in play,” Toronto-based Luisa Moreno of Euro Pacific Capital Inc. told Bloomberg. “It would be a very good target for companies that are interested in being in this space if they recognize the rare earth space is important and they have the cash to take Molycorp and make it a real producing company.”

GOIN’ DOWN DOWN DOWN
Molycorp’s difficulties socked investors with a 61 percent loss in 2012, Bloomberg noted. A stock that had traded as high as $77.54 in May 2011 had tanked to $9.44 on Dec. 31, 2012. Shares have been rising recently on takeover rumors.

One rare earth expert doesn’t believe that Siemens, Nissan and Hyundai stand a chance. Rather, China would be the most likely acquirer, further cementing its hold on the market.

“Molycorp has no value outside of Chinese control,” says Jim Kennedy, president of St. Louis-based rare earth and thorium consulting firm ThREEM3, which also owns right to rare-earth byproducts from Missouri’s Pea Ridge iron ore mine. China’s ability to influence supply and prices means that any other acquirer would struggle to survive, he said. “Why would any corporation buy Molycorp when 83 percent of its production will sell at a loss?” Kennedy wondered in an email exchange with me.

MEET ME IN THE MOJAVE

Adding legs to his assertion: According to one source, Chinese government officials recently toured Molycorp’s Mountain Pass facilities in Mojave Desert, near Nevada. They are not interested in the deposit so much as the company’s refining techniques, the source said.

The Chinese government owns many rare earth companies including giant Baotou Steel Rare-Earth. China has recently imposed production and export cuts in an effort to drive up the price of rare earths. It has also undertaken a massive industry consolidation.

One reason that rare earth prices - and thus Molycorp’s share value - tumbled is that manufacturers have been finding ways around their reliance on rare earths.

They have also been scrambling to circumvent China’s control. (Molycorp faced heavy domestic criticism earlier this year when it became obvious that it was selling much of its U.S.-mined rare earths to China.)

An acquisition of Molycorp would echo a similar move from earlier this year, when an affiliate of Toyota bought half a Canadian rare earth deposit.

Rare earth users have also been casting about for sources of rare earths outside of China. As I noted yesterday, Japan thinks it might have landed a gold mine, so to speak, in Jamaica.

Also as I said yesterday, there’s another country that holds great promise as a future source. It’s a country that you might say is the opposite of Jamaica.

Rare Earth Manufacturer & Supplier: Chinatungsten Online - http://www.chinatungsten.com
Tel.: 86 592 5129696; Fax: 86 592 5129797
Email: sales@chinatungsten.com
Tungsten News & Tungsten Prices, 3G Version: http://3g.chinatungsten.com
Tungsten News & Tungsten Prices, WML Version: http://m.chinatungsten.com

TUC Resources shares soar following intersections of very high grades of over 90% heavy rare earth at its Stromberg Heavy Rare Earth prospect in the Northern Territory. Shares were up $0.141 a share, up over 113% before trending down to 96.72% at $0.12 a share.

Diamond drilling at the prospect returned 4.2 metres at 0.93% total rare earth oxide with 92% heavy rare earth oxide and included 3 metres at 1.19% TREO.Other intersections included 3 metres at 0.59% TREO including 1 metre at 1.10% TREO with 94% heavy rare earth oxide.

The clay host rock allows the conclusion that the geological processes that have formed at the Stromberg Prospect are similar to those that produced the renowned Southern China Clay rare earth deposits.

The Chinese rare earth deposits are at the forefront of rare earth production because the majority have very low production costs.

TUC hopes to find mineralisation with similar mineral processing characteristics to these Southern China Clay deposits and theorises its chances of doing so are increased due to the large number of prospects on its ground. It recently made breakthroughs in land access that allows it to target nearby Skyfall and Largo prospects.

TUC intends to focus 2013 exploration efforts on this large district potential with work planned to commence next month. Separately, it has entered into a memorandum of understanding with China's Shandong Provincial Bureau of Geology and Mineral Resources to form an alliance for the exploration of eight heavy rare earth tenements in the Stromberg region.

As part of the MoU, TUC will place 22.5 million shares to Shandong at an issue price of $0.10 a share together with 9 million free attaching options to raise a total of $A2.25 million. The options can be exercised at $0.20 a share before 14 August, 2014.

This new partner would fully fund the feasibility , design and importantly construction in return for a 50% share of that project and certain off-take rights.

Stromberg REE tenements

TUC Resources Ltd holds approximately 15,000 square kilometres of prospective land package across 47 (28 under application) tenements making it one of the biggest ground holders in the Northern Territory of Australia.

Last year, TUC focused on developing its Stromberg heavy rare earth elements project towards resource status with additional metallurgical testing. It also undertook geochemical sampling on the nearby Scaramanga and Knightfall prospects.

The Scaramanga prospect was drilled and yielded promising results with first pass drilling  delineating more near surface mineralisation with a high HREE distribution. Dysprosium, Yttrium and Erbium at a high of 7.5%, 64% and 5% of TREO distribution respectively were found.

Rare Earth Manufacturer & Supplier: Chinatungsten Online - http://www.chinatungsten.com
Tel.: 86 592 5129696; Fax: 86 592 5129797
Email: sales@chinatungsten.com
Tungsten News & Tungsten Prices, 3G Version: http://3g.chinatungsten.com
Tungsten News & Tungsten Prices, WML Version: http://m.chinatungsten.com

Pele Mountain Resources Inc. announced initial drill results from recent drilling at the Eco Ridge Mine Rare Earths and Uranium Project at Elliot Lake.

Highlights from the first five holes drilled in the Northwest Extension (northwest of the Resource Wireframe) include: All five holes intersected the MCB along a strike length exceeding three kilometres; four of the five holes significantly exceeded the average U3O8 and average Total REO grade of the Resource Wireframe; Hole PM214 returned 0.063-percent U3O8 and 2,125 ppm Total REO over a true thickness of 2.99 metres, including 313 ppm neodymium oxide, 102 ppm yttrium oxide,and 22 ppm dysprosium oxide.

Pele’s President and CEO, Al Shefsky, said:

    "These results conclusively demonstrate that the Main Conglomerate Bed continues to the north and west of the current Resource Wireframe, which can potentially add significant resources and years of mine-life to the project. We are particularly pleased to see higher-than-average grades of U3O8 and Heavy REO in the Northwest Extension".

Rare Earth Manufacturer & Supplier: Chinatungsten Online - http://www.chinatungsten.com
Tel.: 86 592 5129696; Fax: 86 592 5129797
Email: sales@chinatungsten.com
Tungsten News & Tungsten Prices, 3G Version: http://3g.chinatungsten.com
Tungsten News & Tungsten Prices, WML Version: http://m.chinatungsten.com

Japan confirmed that it will launch a survey of its Pacific seabed in the hope of finding rare earth deposits large enough to supply its high-tech industries and reduce its dependence on China, according to a report from The Japan Times.

Researchers from the Japan Agency for Marine-Earth Science and Technology are scheduled to begin the probe later this month near Minamitorishima Island, which is located approximately 2,000 kilometres southeast of Tokyo.

The survey follows earlier findings by Tokyo University professor Yasuhiro Kato, who took mud samples from the area in July last year. Kato has told media sources that he estimates that the deposit, located 5,600 meters beneath the seabed, could host enough dysprosium — used in lasers and commercial lighting — to satisfy Japanese domestic demand for the next 400 years.

Finding large-scale proven reserves inside Japan’s exclusive economic zone would be a significant boost to Japanese industry, which currently relies primarily on REE imports from China.

Toyota issues fourth payment for stake in Canadian rare earth project

Toyotsu Rare Earth Canada, a subsidiary of Toyota Tsusho, paid Matamec Explorations C$1.595 million — the fourth in a series of payments for its committed equity of a 49-percent undivided interest in the Kipawa heavy rare earth element (HREE) deposit. Matamec confirmed the payment last week.

As per the terms of the agreement, the Japanese-owned subsidiary paid C$8.5 million for a 25-percent undivided interest in July. In order to secure the remaining 24 percent, Matamec agreed to receive successive payments to reach the agreed upon total. The third payment was issued last month.

The company’s press release notes that to date, Matamec has received C$12,155,019 of the maximum C$16 million for the completion of a definitive feasibility study on the deposit, which is expected in the second quarter of 2013.

Matamec’s president and CEO, Andre Gauthier, said, “[t]he partnership with Toyotsu provides Matamec with the financial resources to continue in the execution of its long-term strategic plan to become a leading global rare earth company.”

Rare Earth Manufacturer & Supplier: Chinatungsten Online - http://www.chinatungsten.com
Tel.: 86 592 5129696; Fax: 86 592 5129797
Email: sales@chinatungsten.com
Tungsten News & Tungsten Prices, 3G Version: http://3g.chinatungsten.com
Tungsten News & Tungsten Prices, WML Version: http://m.chinatungsten.com

The US Department of Energy (DOE) will allocate up to $120 million for the creation of a rare earths research facility aimed at decreasing the country’s dependence on rare earth elements (REEs) from China.

The new research center will be called the Critical Materials Institute (CMI) and will bring together leading researchers from academia, the private sector and four DOE national laboratories.

The new hub will focus on developing technologies that will enable the US to make better use of materials it has access to as well as on eliminating the need for materials that are subject to supply disruptions, according to a DOE press release. To do so, the CMI will “leverage … existing research programs into a larger, coordinated effort designed to eliminate materials criticality as an impediment to the commercialization of clean energy technologies.”

The center will also address challenges across the entire lifecycle of REE materials, from enabling new sources to improving the economics of existing sources to accelerating material development and deployment.

The move is partially a response to findings reported in the DOE’s December 2011 Critical Materials Strategy document, which notes that supply challenges for five rare earth metals (dysprosium, terbium, europium, neodymium and yttrium) are likely to affect clean energy technology deployment in the coming years.

Market round-up

Praseodymium/neodymium metal prices remained stable last week, but Chinese suppliers intend to increase offer prices in the near term, according to a report by Metal-Pages.

Market sources confirmed that prices for 99-percent praseodymium/neodymium metal are currently around $64,370 to $65,980 per tonne, while some suppliers have increased offer prices to as high as $69,200 per tonne.

A Beijing-based trader noted that praseodymium/neodymium metal prices have been rising recently. “It is difficult to buy the material at low prices and news has been heard that suppliers will adjust up offer prices,” he told Metal-Pages.

Lanthanum metal prices remained unchanged in response to persistently weakening downstream demand.

A supplier in Southern China said that lanthanum metal prices have been trading around $12,875 per tonne due to weak demand. “Sales of lanthanum metal have been poor and the market is quiet. Prices lower than 12,875/tonne are acceptable,” he explained to Metal-Pages.

Sources indicate that tightening supply means that REE prices are unlikely to drop again in the run up to Chinese New Year on February 10.

Company news

Pele Mountain Resources sold its Pigeon River project to Zara Resources for $700,000 (payable in Zara stock).

Al Shefsky, president and CEO of Pele, stated: “[i]n order to better focus on advancing development at our Eco Ridge Mine Rare Earths and Uranium Project, our goal is to find qualified partners to fund and operate our non-core projects or to sell them outright. We believe Zara and its team will capably explore the project and we are pleased to convert our stake into an equity and royalty interest.”

In 2009, Pele staked the Pigeon River project, which is currently comprised of 418 mining claim units in the Pigeon River area of Northwest Ontario, 80 kilometers southwest of Thunder Bay. The property covers large unexplored magnetic targets near the basal contact of the Duluth Complex.

Mkango Resources renewed its exploration license for its flagship Songwe Hill rare earth project in Malawi for an additional two years.

The Phalombe licence has been renewed for a further two years, effective January 20, 2013, and grants the company exclusive rights to carry on prospecting operations for all 17 rare earth elements — such as yttrium, strontium and niobium — as well as a number of other elements, including iron ore, manganese, gold and silver, according to a company press release.

The company’s main priority with respect to the Songwe Hill project is completion of scoping metallurgical test work and further mineralogical studies, both of which are partially funded by external research programs in South Africa and the United Kingdom.

Rare Earth Manufacturer & Supplier: Chinatungsten Online - http://www.chinatungsten.com
Tel.: 86 592 5129696; Fax: 86 592 5129797
Email: sales@chinatungsten.com
Tungsten News & Tungsten Prices, 3G Version: http://3g.chinatungsten.com
Tungsten News & Tungsten Prices, WML Version: http://m.chinatungsten.com

VANCOUVER, BRITISH COLUMBIA - Jan.17,2013 - CAVAN VENTURES INC. ("Cavan" or the "Company") announces today it has received significant rare earth element (REE) assays from its 2012 prospecting program at its 100% owned Pythonga Property, located approximately 15 kilometers west of the town of Maniwaki, Quebec. The property consists of 110 map staked claims covering an area of approximately 6,523 hectares. The claims are divided in three blocks: the East Block (35 claims), the Central Block (71 claims) and the SW block (4 claims).

The prospecting program was executed by the team of Magnor Exploration Inc. under the supervision of Dr. Christian Derosier, P.Geo, Cavan's Consulting Geologist and Qualified Person for the Pythonga Lake Rare Earth Element project. The program consisted of prospecting along recently-built timber roads, channel sampling, limited line cutting, limited radiometric survey and delimiting the future stripping areas. All this work has been conducted within the East Block boundaries.

A total of 42 channel samples were taken and assayed by ALS Minerals lab in North Vancouver, B.C. The method of analysis recommended by the exploration team and the laboratory for rare earth and trace elements uses the lithium metaborate/tetraborate fusion followed by Inductively Coupled Plasma (ICP) for the major oxides and by Inductively Coupled Plasma Mass Spectrometry (ICP-MS) for a series of 38 elements which include the REE's.

Most samples which returned appreciable REE values (higher than 0.20% TREE) were obtained from pink to red coarse-grained pegmatite that returned more than 400 counts per second (cps) with the radiometric field instrument. These samples were selected close to already known mineralization, or on their on strike extensions.

Sample P268092 was collected at a new location. This new discovery gave 390.1 ppm U, 1149 ppm Th and 13600 cps with the instrument. The "Frog" occurrence is in mafic gneiss mixed with some pegmatite dikes. The outcrop is 1-2m wide and was followed over 25m in length. This occurrence is open in both directions.

This new discovery as well as the new channel sampling increase the economic potential of the Pythonga REE project and justify a more aggressive exploration program which will be started as soon as the snow cover clears.

Mr. Peter P. Swistak, President of Cavan Ventures states, "The Pythonga REE project continues to reveal a real potential for economic rare earth mineralization. We are preparing a focused exploration campaign which will begin with geophysical surveys, a trenching and stripping phase, followed by a diamond drilling program."

Rare Earth Manufacturer & Supplier: Chinatungsten Online - http://www.chinatungsten.com
Tel.: 86 592 5129696; Fax: 86 592 5129797
Email: sales@chinatungsten.com
Tungsten News & Tungsten Prices, 3G Version: http://3g.chinatungsten.com
Tungsten News & Tungsten Prices, WML Version: http://m.chinatungsten.com