Mwangala Mwangala of class 7B, 11 years old, in clean school uniform, steps forward in front of all his teachers, clears his throat, and stands in front of the…
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CrucibleThe Crucible: May 2018
*10% Discount for MMTA Members for CRU Ryan’s Notes Ferroalloys Europe 2018*
MEMBER DISCOUNT Meet the right people, at the right time, in the right place, at the right price. CRU Ryan’s Notes Ferroalloys Europe 2018 is the leading European-focused ferroalloys trading…
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2018年4月11日至13日，由MMTA主办，Metal Events承办的2018年MMTA国际小金属贸易协会年度峰会在加拿大蒙特利尔成功举办。本次峰会的主题是“全球小金属的市场发展以及小金属行业的前景” 。来自欧洲，北美，南美及亚洲等300余位嘉宾参会。
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After a childhood accident left him with metal screws in his arm, Michael Sealy was still experiencing pain from the screws many years later, long after the injury itself had…
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CrucibleThe Crucible: February 2019
3D printing eliminates undesirable trait in conventional superalloys
3D printing eliminates undesirable trait in conventional superalloys David Kubarek, Pennsylvania State University An undesirable trait found in traditionally processed superalloys does not exist in a 3-D-printed, nickel-based superalloy, according to…
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The MMTA’s Anniversary Dinner took place on the 9th October at One Great George Street, the historic and resplendent home of the Institute of Civil Engineers. We were delighted to…
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CrucibleThe Crucible: June 2018A pinch of salt containing minor metals can improve battery performance
MMTA alumnus, Tiesheng Wang (王铁胜), has found a simple way to fabricate a family of regular 3-D carbon-based materials by soaking solutions of metal salts with supramolecular sponges then baking…
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A superior, low-cost catalyst for water-splitting by Indian Institute of Science In a significant step toward large-scale hydrogen production, researchers at the Indian Institute of Science (IISc) have developed a low-cost…
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Drones are everywhere, from tiny stocking fillers to military grade weapons, these unmanned aircraft have changed everything from photography to warfare. They are typically made of light composite materials to…
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Our MMTA Charity, Friends of Mufulira (FOM), arises out of The Minor Metals Trade Association’s wish to publicly recognize the communities in developing countries upon which we all depend for…
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Please send your CV to career@arrandene.mfg.com
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CrucibleThe Crucible: February 2019Bacterial protein could help find materials for your next smartphone
Bacterial protein could help find materials for your next smartphone December 19, 2018 by Gail Mccormick, Pennsylvania State University A newly discovered protein could help detect, target, and collect from the…
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Commercially available since the 1970s, the lithium-ion battery is now the workhorse power source in many applications. It can be found in cell phones, laptops and electric vehicles. Yet, much…
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Dear Members We’re nearly half way through December and 2018 draws towards its end. Soon the holidays here in New York will be upon us and the likelihood of snow…
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Against the backdrop of the recent speech by Theresa May outlining the UK government’s aspirations for Brexit, and President Trump’s tweeted warnings of tariffs on steel and aluminium imports to…
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It has been over 2 years since the British public voted to leave the EU, but the last weeks have seen activity ramping up significantly. With Brexit Secretary David Davis’s…
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A former manager for Microsoft Corp in China has been named as the first Executive Secretary of the Responsible Cobalt Initiative (RCI), which works to address social and environmental risks…
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CrucibleThe Crucible: June 2019Charging into the future—novel rock salt for use in rechargeable magnesium batteries
Charging into the future—novel rock salt for use in rechargeable magnesium batteries Life today depends heavily on electricity. However, the unrelenting demand for electricity calls for increasingly greener and “portable”…
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CrucibleThe Crucible: June 2019Chemists could make ‘smart glass’ smarter by manipulating it at the nanoscale
Chemists could make ‘smart glass’ smarter by manipulating it at the nanoscale 4th June 1019- by Anne Manning, Colorado State University “Smart glass,” an energy-efficiency product found in newer windows of…
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Sales of new-energy passenger vehicles in China amounted to over 92,000 units in May, up 140% year-on-year and up 30% month-on-month, according to wholesale data from China Passenger Car Association (CPCA)…
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COBALT: What about small scale miners? In global markets the price of cobalt, used in batteries for high-tech products from phones to cars , has nearly tripled to $81,500 a…
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CrucibleThe Crucible: May 2019Commodity Risk Management in the World of Minor Metals: by Robert Fig
Commodity Risk Management in the World of Minor Metals: by Robert Fig Alongside Nickel, Minor Metals pose a real risk to those involved in the Stainless, Speciality Steel, Electric Vehicle…
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Recycling sustainability as it relates to Minor Metals witnessed great strides in the last century in the context of specialty steel and tool steel manufacturing. What likely began as a…
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‘The United States must not remain reliant on foreign competitors like Russia and China for the critical minerals needed to keep our economy strong and our country safe’ The signing…
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CRM Alliance Round Up- Second panel The first speaker of the 2nd panel, Prof. Dr. Mikhail Zheludkevich, Head of Department, Institute of Materials Research Helmholtz-Zentrum Geesthacht (HZG), addressed the innovate…
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The Current Status of Critical Raw Materials in the European union On 27 September 2018, the second bi-annual CRM Day took place at the Club Des Guides, Brussels. The event,…
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This year’s 24th CRU Ryan’s Notes Ferroalloys conference will take place 21-23 October 2018 at The Hyatt Regency Grand Cypress, Orlando, FL, USA. Widely considered the largest and most important ferroalloys networking…
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第24届CRU Ryan’s Notes Ferroalloys Conference 将于2018年10月21日至23日在美国弗洛里达州奥兰多The Hyatt Regency Grand Cypress举行。
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CrucibleThe Crucible: March 2019Cutting-edge underwater mining system can give flooded mines a new lease of life
There’s a more cost-effective way to reopen Europe’s disused and flooded mines. Scientists demonstrate how with a novel robotic underwater ore extraction system. Europe has an estimated EUR 100 billion…
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CrucibleThe Crucible: June 2018
Densified wood to challenge metal? Cheaper than composites and as strong as titanium?
Wood has been used for millennia for building and has some great technical properties. It has, however, some drawbacks that have barred it from certain applications until now. Its most…
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Derek John BENHAM was born in Enfield on 20 November 1952. As a child he had an amateur radio license, and a large aerial at the bottom of the family…
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CrucibleThe Crucible: May 2018Does Metal Use Slow When a Country’s Wealth Grows? Maybe Not, Study Shows
It is widely believed that a nation’s metal use plateaus when that country’s gross domestic product (GDP) reaches a threshold of $15,000 per person; with rising affluence, the theory goes,…
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Don’t feel too Pious about your Prius! Copper might be the wonder metal for Plug-In Hybrid Electric Vehicles (PHEVs) but there are still copper smelters all over the world generating…
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Due diligence rules tin, tantalum and tungsten 24.03.2019: Arnoud R. Willem- Sidley Austin LLP There has been a development on supply chain due diligence obligations of EU importers of tin,…
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Whether as a component that powers up computers, mobile phones or other electronic devices, metal makes up a large part of tech products. The latest and greatest devices crafted with…
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CrucibleThe Crucible: February 2019
Earth’s cobalt deposits formed much later than previously believed
Earth’s cobalt deposits formed much later than previously believed November 21, 2018 by Katie Willis, University of Alberta Cobalt deposits in one of Earth’s largest cobalt-mining regions are 150 million years…
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ECHA RELEASES COMPREHENSIVE BREXIT CHEMICALS INSTRUCTIONS 8 February 2019 / CLP Regulation, Data, Europe, Pic Regulation, REACH, Substance registration, UK ECHA has published detailed instructions for all companies placing chemical…
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CrucibleThe Crucible: October 2018
Ed Meir and US Members Chat about Tariffs, while Rare Earths Escape their Clutches
VIEW FROM NORTH AMERICA Ed Meir and US Members Chat about Tariffs, while Rare Earths Escape their Clutches Dear Members Early last week it was stinking hot here. It was…
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Process that modifies semiconductor material atom by atom could enable higher-performance electronics Rob Matheson I MIT News Office December 7 2018 Researchers from MIT and the University of Colorado have…
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Fireworks are an integral part of celebrations around the world – Bonfire Night in the UK, a range of Independence Days, weddings and birthdays – but their original use was…
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Used to produce three-dimensional objects of almost any type, across a range of industries, including healthcare, aviation and engineering, 3-D printed materials have come of age during the last decade.…
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Kris Guns, 福帝金属有限公司的首席执行官在2018年11月6日MMTA国际小金属贸易协会香港座谈会上发表讲话，预测碲市场将在2020年面临赤字。 “通过分析太阳能行业中的小金属供应，我公司进行了广泛的市场调查，得出结论：到2020年，碲的赤字可能高达370公吨。”
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Kris Guns, CEO of Fortis Metals, who was speaking at the MMTA in Hong Kong on November 6th predicted the Tellurium market will face a deficit in 2020. “Analyzing minor…
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What a way to spend 24 (ish!) hours. Roskill are pleased to announce that following the 3 peaks challenge, they have exceeded the £3000 target for Friends of Mufulira You…
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A brief introduction My name is Elizabeth and I’m a final year medical student at Liverpool University. This is an article written about my elective, which I carried out with…
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The MMTA’s chosen charity, ‘Friends of Mufulira’, now has an account on AmazonSmile. AmazonSmile is a platform that allows you to support a charity of your choice at no extra…
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From the Earth’s Core It is possible to imagine that when the Earth first began, it looked a lot like the geothermal region in the North Island of New Zealand.…
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Antimony isn’t generally considered to be one of the more interesting minor metals. While it has cropped up on several critical raw materials lists, owing to the high concentration of…
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In research that could lead to better gas mask filters, scientists at the Department of Energy’s Lawrence Berkeley National Laboratory (Berkeley Lab) have been putting the X-ray spotlight on composite…
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There was an extremely interesting report published in August from the IISD (International Institute for Sustainable Development) based in Canada. Green Conflict Minerals: The fuels of conflict in the transition…
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Hazardous e-waste material exported from the affluent developed world continues to plague cities in developing countries. The city of Moradabad, home to 900,000 people, was once celebrated as the brass…
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CrucibleThe Crucible: January 2019How Chinese products went from ‘cheap and cheerful’ to weapons in US trade war
Tensions are escalating between China and the US over trade. The Chinese government has announced retaliatory measures on a range of American products including cars and some American agriculture products after the…
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CrucibleThe Crucible: July/August 2018How recycling more steel and aluminium could slash imports without a trade war
Many economists expect President Donald Trump’s tariffs on imported steel and aluminium to increase what American companies and consumers pay for those metals and the goods made from them. Dozens of…
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Materials comparison website lists properties of Marvel’s magical material Have you ever wondered just how strong Black Panther’s suit or Captain America’s shield is? The materials scientists at Matmatch have,…
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CrucibleThe Crucible: July/ August 2019
How to hedge with commodities where no futures market exists
How to hedge with commodities where no futures market exists We talked briefly in the May edition about how to manage risks in metals where they are not traded on…
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Researchers at KTH Royal Institute of Technology have successfully tested a new material that can be used for cheap and large-scale production of hydrogen – another promising alternative to fossil…
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Indium Phosphide Under RoHS Review The MMTA recently coordinated industry input to the EU’s RoHS Consultation on indium phosphide (InP), which was included in the list of seven…
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The MMTA was pleased to interview the CEO of Matmatch, Melissa Albeck, to find out more about materials selection and how technology can help. Can you tell us a bit…
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The world’s climate scientists have spoken: if we want to limit human-induced global warming to 1.5°C we probably can. But it will be tough, given where we’re starting from. That’s…
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Japan’s Hayabusa2 probe to land on asteroid on Feb 22 A Japanese probe sent to examine an asteroid in order to shed light on the origins of the solar system…
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A team of researchers from RMIT University in Melbourne, Australia, led by Professor Milan Brandt, are using laser metal deposition technology to build and repair defence aircraft parts in a…
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China has recently released its new trade policies. These policy changes will significantly impact foreign and multinational companies doing business with China. In order to support our MMTA member companies…
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Dear Members Here’s wishing all members everywhere a very happy spring! We here in the U.S., and I believe, those of you in the UK seem to be some way…
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Dear Members August draws to an end. And next weekend is Labor Day weekend – the “official” end of summer here vis-à-vis vacations, early Fridays, etc., etc. We saw it…
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CrucibleThe Crucible: June 2018
LETTER FROM NORTH AMERICA – From Critical Materials to Conflict Minerals
Dear Members And, now, here we are at the end of May. Time continues to fly by so speedily. The weather in New York has not quite broken yet for…
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Letter from North America: Morocco With an Observation on Rare Earths in Russia and Further Observations on Certain Mineral Resources in Morocco and Western Sahara Dear Members I trust…
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Anthony Lipmann talks to new MMTA Chairman, Simon Boon Close to the site of the two cooling towers over the Don Valley just outside Sheffield (that briefly had the honour…
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CrucibleThe Crucible: April 2018Meet the new ‘renewable superpowers’: nations that boss the materials used for wind and solar
Imagine a world where every country has not only complied with the Paris climate agreement but has moved away from fossil fuels entirely. How would such a change affect global…
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Metals on Mars By Amanda Doyle – Mar 15, 2018 New research has revealed that a giant impact on Mars more than four billion years ago would explain the unusual amount of…
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Metalshub takes commodity trading into the digital age It’s not the first time that there has been attempt to ‘digitalise’ minor metals trading, but traditional practices have endured. Now Metalshub…
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CrucibleThe Crucible: February 2019Mining asteroids could unlock untold wealth – here’s how to get started
Mining asteroids could unlock untold wealth – here’s how to get started May 2, 2018 12.25pm BST Several privately funded space companies are locked in a race to claim the trillions…
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Mining waste for Value in the EU The European Union imports a significant amount of important metals as it does not have its own natural mineral resources. Researchers investigated the…
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Minor Metals in Focus: Tantalum In our new monthly column for the MMTA, we will be shining the spotlight on a different minor metal each edition, looking at current market…
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Minor Metals in Focus: Tungsten In our monthly column for the MMTA, we shine the spotlight on a key minor metal, looking at current market conditions and themes for the…
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“现金是上帝！”这句谚语流传至今。是的，这是事实。但是这看似永无止境的延期付款条款及其对现金的影响对MMTA会员来说意味着什么呢？东西方之间不断扩大的支付条款分歧如何影响小金属的回收和可持续性以及未来的发展方向？
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第一天——4月10日星期三 4月10日星期三，苏格兰爱丁堡的天空还有些阴沉沉，不过却迎来了MMTA国际小金属贸易协会一年一度的王牌峰会。对于周一没有参加在格伦伊戈尔斯高尔夫球场由ICD赞助的高尔夫球赛，周二也未能参观克莱德代尔大学（Clydesdale Uiversity）的先进制造研究中心（AFRC）的代表们，会议以一个出席率良好的年度股东大会开始。
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This year’s MMTA International Minor Metals Conference was not only exceptionally well attended, with over 300 delegates, but the speaker programme was also outstanding. New MMTA Chairman Simon Boon of…
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MMTA International Minor Metals Conference 2019 Round-up Day 1 – Wednesday, April 10 Somewhat overcast skies greeted us on the morning of Wednesday, April 1 in Edinburgh, Scotland, the first…
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十一月初，MMTA国际小金属贸易协会在香港举行了首届研讨会。此次活动吸引了近80名来自中国和世界其它地区的代表，大家围绕小金属行业目前所面临的问题展开了讨论。
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MMTA’s New York Dinner Every March the swallows return to the mission of San Juan Capistrano in California. Every June the salmon return upstream to the fresh Northwest waters of…
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尊敬的各位会员， 我很高兴从2019年1月2日起担任国际小金属贸易协会总经理。特别是我感到非常幸运能够有机会同玛丽亚一起工作直到四月完成交接，我知道这将是一个巨大的挑战！
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Elemental Metals 于2017年4月成立，是供给航空、医药、电子及珠宝市场的高纯度元素原料、合金、氧化物和特种化学品的供应商。
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Donald McArthy Trading Pte Ltd (DMT) 于1997年在新加坡成立，是一家专门从事新钛产品和有色金属废料的贸易公司。
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陕西华钼实业有限公司于2005年在西安市蓝田县工业园投资建设占地面积4万余平方米的大型现代化钼产品生产基地，是国内知名钼金属加工、深加工、销售全产业链企业。
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每年三月，燕子归巢，每年六月，鲑鱼返乡。 每年1月，北美小金属行业的盛事都会回到MMTA在纽约举办的年度晚宴上，度过一个美食、社交与信息交融的愉快夜晚。
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CrucibleThe Crucible: February - March 2018NASA Armstrong tests nickel-titanium shape-memory alloy for folding aircraft wings padlock
NASA Armstrong tests nickel-titanium shape-memory alloy for folding aircraft wings January 2018 Source: ASM International NASA Armstrong Flight Research Center, Edwards AFB, Calif., announces a recent series of flight tests in…
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The US and Canada have reached a deal on a “new, modernized trade agreement”, designed to replace the 1994 Nafta pact. In a joint statement on Sunday night, the two nations said…
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CrucibleThe Crucible: May 2018
New EU ‘Urban Mining’ Tools Map Valuable Resources in e-Waste, Scrap Vehicles, Mine Waste
Standardized, consolidated data helps to identify recovery potential of secondary raw materials worth € billions wasted annually. Expert organizations have united to create the first European database of valuable materials…
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Indometal (London) Limited was founded in 1988 and is based in London, UK. The company is a wholly owned subsidiary of PT TIMAH Tbk a State-owned Enterprise, one of the…
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Orion Metal Trade Orion Metal Trade have built up a privileged reputation for processing and trading metals which are used across the globe. Vast experience in processing makes us the…
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NEW MMTA MEMBER Yunnan Chihong International Germanium Co., Ltd. We have the largest primary germanium processing factory in the world, with an area of more than 200,000㎡. Our factory is…
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Established in 2006, we are a leading producer of tantalum- and niobium-based metallurgical products in China, with a production volume more than the second and third players combined together. We…
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NEW MMTA MEMBER Elemental Metals Elemental Metals was formed back in April 2017. We are a competitive supplier of high purity elemental raw materials, alloys, oxides and specialty chemicals to…
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Plaxys Inc Previously known as Dabok Newer Metal in 2014, Plaxys Inc expanded its metal focus in 2018 to include Tantalum, Titanium, Zirconium, Molybdenum, Tungsten, and more. Our main area…
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NEW MMTA MEMBER Guangdong Zhiyuan New Material Co., Ltd Established in 2006, we are a leading producer of tantalum- and niobium-based metallurgical products in China, with a production volume…
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Donald McArthy Trading Pte Ltd (DMT) was established in Singapore in 1997 as a trading company specializing in new titanium products and non-ferrous scrap. Today, it is involved in the…
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Shaanxi Head-Moly Industry Co., Ltd. was established in 2005 in Shaanxi Province, China, it is an integrated enterprise which combines molybdenum metal production, processing, sales and export. Our products include…
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Wood foam and metal sponge – can they be combined? That was the question that experts at the Fraunhofer Institute for Wood Research, Wilhelm-Klauditz-Institut WKI delved into in a project…
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CrucibleThe Crucible: June 2018
Newly discovered copper and graphite combo could lead to more efficient lithium-ion batteries
A first-of-its-kind copper and graphite combination discovered in basic energy research at the U.S. Department of Energy’s Ames Laboratory could have implications for improving the energy efficiency of lithium-ion batteries,…
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NO DEAL BREXIT AND REACH With the prospect of Britain leaving the European Union with no agreement other than WTO terms in place increasingly being discussed, and after months of…
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CrucibleThe Crucible: March 2019
No-deal Brexit risks REACH registrations becoming VOID: how to prepare for Brexit disruption
No-deal Brexit risks REACH registrations becoming VOID: how to prepare for Brexit disruption 27Tth February 2019. Authors Raminta Dereskeviciute, Clare Reynolds, K & L Gates With just one month to…
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Can a seller terminate if a letter of credit is not opened on time? In a recent arbitration decision a tribunal rejected the general principle that the obligation on a buyer…
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CrucibleThe Crucible: July/August 2018OBITUARY- MR. K. ALEXANDER STEWART ASSOCIATE AND FELLOW OF ROYAL INSTITUTE OF CHEMISTRY
The MMTA team were sad to learn of the passing of long-standing MMTA Member, Alex Stewart. OBITUARY- MR. K. ALEXANDER STEWART ASSOCIATE AND FELLOW OF ROYAL INSTITUTE OF CHEMISTRY Company…
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VIEW FROM NORTH AMERICA Dear Members I trust all goes well with members everywhere as we enter, already, the third month of 2019. We’re expecting yet another winter storm tomorrow.…
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VIEW FROM NORTH AMERICA Of a Shutdown (US) and a Sell-Off (Fanya) Dear Members An extraordinarily belated Happy New Year, but a wonderful one all the same! …
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“Cash is King!” so the old business proverb goes. It is, this is true. But what about the seemingly never-ending extending payment terms and the effect on cash for members…
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Opportunities aplenty for molybdenum demand– by James Jeary Molybdenum is consumed in a broad array of chemical and metallurgical applications spanning the energy, transport, construction, chemical, medical and electronics industries.…
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CrucibleThe Crucible: June 2018Radical closed-wing aircraft design could see greener skies take flight
An artist’s view of the PrandtlPlane shows what future commercial aircrafts could look like. Image credit – Vittorio C/ University of Pisa, Italy, licensed under CC BY-SA 3.0 Aviation…
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Raw materials in search of sustainability In this article, I want to look at a range of raw materials that are currently used in the automotive industry, mainly as materials…
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RBA Responsible Sourcing Summit The MMTA recently attended the Responsible Sourcing Summit by the Responsible Business Alliance (RBA) in Berlin. The Summit provided attendees with four topic areas ranging from…
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The European Commission has finally published the delayed second REACH review (REACH REFIT Evaluation) – Expected in June 2017. The results of the assessment have been presented in a Commission…
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UK Government Guidance Notice A scenario in which the UK leaves the EU without agreement (a ‘no deal’ scenario) remains unlikely given the mutual interests of the UK and the…
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Reversible chemistry clears path for safer batteries By Martha Heil, University of Maryland -09/05/2019 Researchers at the University of Maryland (UMD) and US Army Research Lab (ARL) have taken a critical…
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CrucibleThe Crucible: November 2018
RJH Trading enters Industrial Minerals marketplace with experienced new division
UK-based metals trading firm RJH Trading announces that it is entering the industrial minerals markets with a new division to be headed up by industry veteran Carl Tracey. Effective immediately,…
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Minor Metals in Focus: Cobalt In our monthly column for the MMTA, we shine the spotlight on a key minor metal, looking at current market conditions and themes for the…
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The full programme is available. Visit https://roskill.com/event/tantalum-2018/#programme to download it now 5 key reasons to attend • Join key tantalum producers to hear the latest outlooks, price forecasts and to…
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CrucibleThe Crucible: July/August 2018Roskill’s Tantalum 2018 Conference 25-26 September 2018- 10% off for MMTA members
Roskill’s inaugural Tantalum 2018 Conference will take place on 25-26 September at the Tower Hotel, London This is an unmissable event for all companies involved in the tantalum industry. By…
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会议完整议程请登陆 https://roskill.com/event/tantalum-2018/#programme 下载。 参会费用 $1,595USD。MMTA 会员专享 10% 的优惠（优惠码TA10） 。 请登陆 https://roskill.com/event/tantalum-2018/ 查看最新出席的公司名单。
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CrucibleThe Crucible: January 2019Scientists make tantalum oxide practical for high-density devices
Scientists at Rice University have created a solid-state memory technology that allows for high-density storage with a minimum incidence of computer errors. The memories are based on tantalum oxide, a…
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CrucibleThe Crucible: June 2019
Summary of the TechUK | Responsible mineral sourcing dialog—Write up
Summary of the TechUK | Responsible mineral sourcing dialog—Write up Key themes and insights Among the key points and insights made during the day: Companies are not just concentrating on…
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CrucibleThe Crucible: May 2018Sweden’s new road powers electric vehicles – what’s the environmental impact?
Sweden has built the first smart road that will allow electric vehicles to charge as they drive. The eRoadArlanda pilot scheme, which covers two kilometres of road outside Stockholm, is an…
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CrucibleThe Crucible: July/August 2018T.I.C.’s 59th General Assembly (AGM and conference) 14-17 October 2018
This year’s 59th T.I.C. General Assembly (AGM and conference) will take place 14-17 October 2018 at Marriott Hotel, Kigali, Rwanda. Widely considered the largest and most important tantalum and niobium networking event…
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On 13th September, members of the MMTA joined business clients of MMTA member, ICICI Bank, at their London offices to share some of the opportunities and pitfalls of doing business…
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On May 7 1813, when Argentina was beginning the process of beoming a sovereign country, the first Argentinian law for the promotion of mining was sanctioned. The day has now…
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The Minor Metals Trade Association held its inaugural seminar in Hong Kong in early November. The event attracted close to 80 participants from China and the rest of the world…
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CrucibleThe Crucible: March 2019The periodic table is 150 – but it could have looked very different
The periodic table stares down from the walls of just about every chemistry lab. The credit for its creation generally goes to Dimitri Mendeleev, a Russian chemist who in 1869 wrote out…
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LETTER FROM NORTH AMERICA Towards a Global Open Material Stocks and Flows Database Dear Members So, the end of July. We seem to be very much into a traditional summer…
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Toyota says it has invented a new magnet for high-energy applications such as electric motors that uses a fraction of the amount of neodymium of a standard iron, boron, neodymium (NdFeB) magnet.…
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CrucibleThe Crucible: April 2019Transitioning to a Low Carbon and Energy Efficient Economy – Battery Raw Materials vs Critical Raw Materials Behind the Scene
Transitioning to a Low Carbon and Energy Efficient Economy – Battery Raw Materials vs Critical Raw Materials Behind the Scene Review of the latest CRM Alliance Day, attended by MMTA…
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What does the re-imposition of United States sanctions on Iran mean for business outside the US? On one view, the US withdrawal from the Joint Comprehensive Plan of Action (JCPOA)…
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CrucibleThe Crucible: October 2018
U.S. gives rare earths reprieve in revised $200 billion China tariff list
U.S. gives rare earths reprieve in revised $200 billion China tariff list BEIJING (Reuters) – The United States did not include rare earth elements, metals used in magnets, radars and…
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UK REACH—BREXIT—UPDATE Gov.uk have just released a new update to their advice on REACH in the event of no deal Brexit, copied below: The MMTA is working on a submission…
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VIEW FROM NORTH AMERICA At last the US looks at its supply chains and comes to some long-overdue conclusions Dear Members I can describe it only as being quite lovely…
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1. The US Top-Up tariff is likely to cut China’s mineral exports. After the US announced on July 11 that China would be charged an additional 10% import tariff, China’s…
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Economic acrimony has been bubbling between the US and China since Donald Trump became president. Now the tensions have boiled over into escalating tit-for-tat announcements of tariffs on key imports. This…
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CrucibleThe Crucible: May 2019Using metals with high thermoelectric power factor to create efficient all-solid-state active cooler
Using metals with high thermoelectric power factor to create efficient all-solid-state active cooler by Bob Yirka , Phys.org Two ways to cool. A refrigerator transfers heat from a cold object…
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Vanadium: what next for a market in deficit? Vanadium prices increased dramatically last year as the market moved into structural deficit. While prices have fallen back from their 2018 peak,…
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VIEW FROM NORTH AMERICA Of Critical Minerals in Australia Dear Members The winter storm I wrote about in my last letter never actually materialized. But Harry still had his day…
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CrucibleThe Crucible: July/ August 2019VIEW FROM NORTH AMERICA- Of Politics, Policies and Photoelectrics
VIEW FROM NORTH AMERICA Of Politics, Policies and Photoelectrics Dear Members Happy summer everyone! All I can say is that I really sympathize with members who are either residing or…
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CrucibleThe Crucible: June 2019VIEW FROM NORTH AMERICA: Of Rare Earths, Morocco and Gallium Nitride
VIEW FROM NORTH AMERICA Of Rare Earths, Morocco and Gallium Nitride Dear Members, Maybe spring is really here? I shall not go any further than “maybe.” But there are some…
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VIEW FROM NORTH AMERICA Dear Members, Now, that was certainly worth suffering severe jet lag for! However, that’s not quite how I felt when I arrived in Edinburgh first thing…
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Dear MMTA members, It is with great pleasure I am taking up the role of General Manager of the Minor Metals Trade Association as from 2nd January 2019. I am…
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CrucibleThe Crucible: May 2019
Welcoming new MMTA Board members Joel Nields, Exotech Inc. and Donna Vareha-Walsh, Indium Corp Joel Nields, Exotech inc
Welcoming new MMTA Board members Joel Nields, Exotech Inc. and Donna Vareha-Walsh, Indium Corp Joel Nields, Exotech inc Joel joined Exotech Inc in 2015 following a period of 12 years…
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Why we’re hunting for treasure – in old landfill sites Humans are generally getting better at dealing with their mess. In the UK, for instance, 45% of household waste is now recycled…
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这是世界上公开展示的最大辉锑矿标本，具有数百个独立的片状晶体，令人叹为观止。辉锑矿是一种含有锑和硫的矿物。2003 年，这个近半吨重的标本从中国东南部的武陵矿中运出。由于晶体是在地下的大洞穴中形成的，因此得以成长至让人印象深刻的长度。这种长度的完整辉锑矿晶体极为罕见。更常见的情况是，采矿者会发现大块的辉锑矿矿床，但其中只有很少量独立的晶体。之后这些矿石被粉碎并“烘烤”，这是提炼锑的过程。这种金属可用于制造发动机轴承、火柴、半导体、陶瓷釉和某些药物。
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9月13日，MMTA国际小金属贸易协会与其会员ICICI银行在伦敦共同主办了一个小型的座谈会，分享了主题为“世界上人口最多和发展最快的市场之一 -——印度开展业务的一些机会和陷阱”。
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亲爱的各位会员， 一声迟到的祝福——新年快乐！ 随着北美圣诞及新年假日的结束，天气也稍微暖和了一点。
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尊敬的各位会员， 在此春回大地之际，祝愿大家万事如意！ 很遗憾，当您看到此篇文章时，已时过境迁。美国内政部关于“美国经济与国家安全相关的关键矿物清单“的征集意见截止时间是在3月19日。此前内政部在对此清单征集意见[i]（然而这篇文章的发表时间是3月18日星期天上午11点，已经收到了461条意见）。
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尊敬的各位会员， 不知不觉已经是2019年的第三个月份了，相信各位一切都顺顺利利。二月对于我来说总是比较繁忙的。每年这个时候，我们都会在奥地利维也纳的联合国举办我们的Zero Project会议。今年也不例外，这次会议是我们有史以来规模最大的一次。此次会议为期三天，吸引了来自世界各地80多个国家的700余人出席，参与讨论残疾人的独立生活和政治参与。
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尊敬的各位会员， 光阴似箭，转眼已到五月底。纽约的天气虽然还没有进入夏季，不过气候已逐渐炎热和潮湿。 为了安全起见，我最好不要谈及特朗普先生和他对钢铝的关税政策。因为我相信，最好由专家来评论为好，特别是从一开始就没有如此强烈反对，反对将关税的整个概念作为谈判“武器”的人。我们只需静观其变。只是，对那些在英国和欧洲喜爱波旁威士忌酒的人我感到深深的抱歉（欧盟对美国实施的铝钢进口关税反击，包括向摩托车和波旁威士忌等加征关税）。
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们太阳系外的气态行星“热木星”的透射光谱中，首次发现重金属氧化物。 该行星 WASP-19b 和木星一样大，但是温度却高出很多，达到 2000K 左右。之前，科学家通过分析来自类似行星的光，发现了这些行星中有氢、氧、碳、钠、钾等较轻的元素，但从未发现过较重的元素。 使用欧洲南方天文台的巨型望远镜和 FORS2 光谱仪在智利圣地亚哥附近检测来自 WASP-19b 的光。天文学家使用各种模型来解释光谱，并找到了与氧化钛 (Titanium) 以及金属钠和水相对应的峰值。 他们表示，氧化钛的存在可能会改变该行星的不透明性，这可能会导致大气中出现强烈的昼夜温差。同时也可能引起大气温度的变化，通过高精度仪器探测来自该热木星和其他热木星的热辐射，在将来或许哈勃太空望远镜或詹姆斯·韦伯太空望远镜可以找到答案。 来源：《自然》 By ESO/M. Kornmesser – https://www.eso.org/public/images/eso1729a/, CC BY 4.0, https://commons.wikimedia.org/w/index.php?curid=62429212 在巨大的外行星高温大气层中检测到氧化钛 was last modified:…
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欢迎来自英国Exotech Inc.公司的Joel Nields以及美国铟泰公司的Donna Vareha-Walsh成为MMTA董事会新成员 Joel Nields, Exotech inc Joel 于2015年加入Exotech公司，此前他在小金属行业已工作了12年。作为采购和销售总监，Joel负责钽、铌、铪、锆、钼、钨、钛和钒废料等一系列小金属的采购和销售。Joel的职责包括制定战略和规划、价格发现和指导，以及开发新业务。
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欧盟由于没有自己的天然矿产资源，因此进口大量的重要金属。研究人员调查了废弃原材料的回收利用，以找到确保可持续供应、增加经济值和减少温室气体排放的方法。
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特朗普的推特已经变成了今日政治的一股“主流”。谁知道每个星期的推特马拉松会为全球关系带来什么？ 三月伊始，特朗普便宣布将对进口到美国的钢和铝分别征收25%和10%的关税。“美国优先”已然行动起来，但这一举动是否会对经济造成意想不到的后果呢？ 首先值得注意的是，这项关税措施针对的是任何出口钢和铝的国家，而非仅仅是那些在美国市场上试图“倾销”不公平补贴产品的国家。批评声音认为钢和铝产业并没有遭遇任何会影响到“保护”关税的具体威胁。澳大利亚总理发推文声明澳大利亚将被免除关税，于是剩下欧盟忐忑不安，所幸最后关头游说组织说服特朗普延缓对欧洲实行此项关税。
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美国对伊朗实施的制裁对美国以外的业务意味着什么？ 有一种观点认为，美国退出伊朗核协议（JCPOA）的变化很小。虽然根据联合国安理会第2231（2015）号决议的规定，所有与伊朗核计划有关的联合国制裁，多边和国内制裁措施都将于2016年1月16日之前取消，但是美国的重要制裁仍存在，即使奥巴马总统在2016年1月16日签署了执行伊朗核协议的行政命令。
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一份最新的报告显示，电动车在其使用寿命内所排放的温室气体比柴油发动机少得多，即使电动车是由碳强度最高的能源驱动。 比利时布鲁塞尔自由大学 (VUB) 进行的车辆全生命周期模拟研究发现，在大量使用煤炭的波兰，电动车的排放量比柴油车少 1/4。 瑞典有着欧洲最清洁的电网。其二氧化碳排放量大幅降低了 85%，是英国等国家的一半左右。 T＆E 智库发言人 Yoann Le Petit 表示：“到 2030 年，电动车的平均二氧化碳排放量将减少至柴油车的一半，当中包括制造过程的排放量。” “在过去一年中，我们接收到很多由燃料行业发布的电气化方面的假新闻，但在此项研究中，可以看到，即使在今天的波兰，驾驶电动车比柴油车对气候更有利。” 这项新研究使用了欧盟对波兰排放量的估计值 650gCO2/kWh，这远低于去年欧盟委员会联合研究中心科学部门的计算结果。
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减重是直升机选材的关键考虑因素。复合材料得到广泛使用，并在直升机总重量中占很高的百分比，尤其是在军用直升机中。但对于某些部位，金属材料仍然是工程师的首选；在成本和可靠性等关键问题上，金属占有绝对的优势。
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路透北京 – 美国对2000亿美元中国商品征收关税的最终清单中不包括稀土元素，突显美国依赖中国供应这类战略矿产。稀土用于磁铁、雷达和消费电子产品。
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美国总统特朗普提出对另外2000亿美元的中国货物征收关税，威胁到用于医药，引擎和电子消费产品等各种小金属和稀土的尖端贸易。 超过6000种的物品已被指定征收10%的进口关税，包括美国政府五月公布的35种对经济和国防安全起关键性作用的矿物清单中的32种物品。
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《Crucible》2019 年 7 月/8 月刊 聚焦小金属：钨 在我们为 MMTA 撰写的月度专栏中，每刊将重点关注一种不同的小金属，关注当前的市场状况以及未来一年中的主要命题。在《Crucible》的 2019 年 7 月/8月刊中，我们将重点关注钨。钨（tungsten）的名字来源于瑞典文中的白钨矿“tung sten”一词，字面意义为“重石”，反映着纯钨的高比重。 近年来，钨市场一直不太稳定。钨是一种难熔金属，常以碳化钨的形式被用做工具材料。2017 年年初，钨的传统市场（美国和欧洲）刚开始在低迷期后出现短暂的复苏迹象，钨的价格也逐渐开始摆脱中国昆明泛亚有色金属交易所涉嫌犯罪事件带来的消极影响。泛亚有色金属交易所曾交易过仲钨酸铵（APT），最终积压了大量库存。 当时，美国石油天然气市场的复苏以及全球汽车生产总量的提升（这几种产业都需要使用钨基工具进行切割、打磨或钻孔），促进了钨的市场需求再度提升；然而，随着中国政府启动了一项大范围的环境改革计划，针对供应端的担忧情绪开始蔓延。中国的多种工业都开始受到相关法规的约束和并需接受各项检查；而对钨市场而言，环境改革计划关注的重点是采矿和精炼业务是否符合环保要求。 中国的崛起 这类产出的很大一部分被作为原料来供应中国庞大的硬质合金刀具产业，但也有大量的钨产品出口到世界其他地方，特别是仲钨酸铵、氧化钨和碳化钨，以及钨铁合金和成品钨工具等。值得注意的是，由于出口税税率为 20%，中国的精矿出口量几乎为零。在 2018 年，中国还进口了 6000 余吨精矿（其中含钨精矿约为 3000 吨）。因此，中国作为全球最主要的精炼钨产地，对钨市场有着巨大的影响力。…
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在我们为 MMTA 撰写的月度专栏中，每刊将重点关注一种不同的小金属，关注当前的市场状况以及未来一年中的主要命题。在《Crucible》的 2019 年 6 月刊中，我们将重点关注钴。钴（Cobalt）源自德语单词“kobold”，意为“妖精”或“邪恶精灵”。那时，矿工们十分不信任被他们称作“Kobolderz”的蓝色颜料矿石，因为这种矿物可能在冶炼时释放出有毒的含砷气体。 在小金属市场中，一年可能是很长的一段时间。上个月，钴业人士齐聚香港参加钴业协会（Cobalt Institute）年会，当时钴的价格在每磅 17 美元（约合人民币 264.59 元每千克）左右。而上一年，当同一个会议在拉斯维加斯举行时，钴的价格则超过了每磅 40 美元（约合人民币 622.57 元每千克）。是什么发生了变化？ 在 2017 和 2018 年间，钴分散了人们对锂的一部分关注度，并在锂离子和电动汽车（EV）展会上占据了焦点地位。钴被用于制造某些锂离子电池的阴极；而且重要的是，硫酸钴是 NCM 和 NCA 电池阴极的重要原料，而这两类电池是电动汽车时代的动力之源。未来十年间，电动汽车电池对钴的需求将继续支撑市场的可观增长。事实上，罗斯基尔公司（Roskill）预计到 2029 年，钴的市场规模将扩大到现在的两倍。…
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在我们为 MMTA 撰写的月度专栏中，每刊将重点关注一种不同的小金属，关注当前的市场状况以及未来一年中的主要命题。在《Crucible》的 2019 年 5 月刊中，我们将重点关注钽。钽（Tantalum）的名字来源于希腊神话人物坦塔罗斯（Tantalus），他最广为人知的故事是被打入冥界，永受折磨。我们可以肯定的是，钽和坦塔罗斯之间的相似处仅限于名字。 钽的产业规模很小，长久以来很容易受到市场平衡的快速变化和价格波动的影响。仅仅一家生产商的生产中断就可能对整个市场产生重大的影响；同样，如下游需求出现无法预见的上升，持有少量库存的加工方就会应对不及。2017 年发生的此类事件使得钽精矿价格大幅上升，五氧化二钽（Ta2O5）从年初的略高于 50 美元/磅（约合人民币 778.22 元/千克）跃升至年底的近 90 美元/磅（约合人民币 1440.79 元/千克）。 截至 2019 年年初，钽市场现面临着完全相反的情况——供应充足并可能会迅速地改变目前钽生产的地理格局。过去的 12 个月中，我们在各种小金属会议上进行的讨论主要集中在一个问题上——澳大利亚不断增加的钽产量对国际钽市场的影响，以及其对钽价格和手工生产商的影响。 图题：全球：一级和二级1钽供应（吨 Ta2O5） 供应源（从左至右）：非洲；南美洲；中国；澳大利亚；南亚/东南亚；欧洲；二级…
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在靠近谢菲尔德市的两个冷却塔处，一座新的纪念雕像即将建成。 这座被称为钢铁侠的纪念雕像由罗瑟勒姆委员会委托，将被设计成一座坐在黑色煤炭石板基座上的坐姿雕像，象征着谢菲尔德自Harry Brearley发明不锈钢以来，这100年来钢铁的发展。作为纪念雕像的一部分，一个宽2.5米，长3米的钢心将放置在建筑内。
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研究人员发现，液态金属滴可以变成雪花状。 当美国北卡罗莱纳州立大学的一个科学家小组试图用液态镓铟作为电化学电池中的电极时，他们发现了奇怪的现象：在几秒钟内，金属开始扩散成雪花状。液态镓铟具有液体中最大表面张力，其形态很少发生改变，因此这是极不寻常的现象。 但施加中等电压会引起镓合金与周围电解质（氢氧化钠水溶液）之间的反应。金属表面出现氧化并降低了表面张力，就如肥皂会降低水的表面张力一样。当重力将金属扩散成圆盘状，表面的干扰会将其分解成一片片的“雪花”。“雪花”继续变化，分裂出更多的碎片，形成图案。 参考文献 C B Eaker 等，《物理评论快报》2017, 119, 174502 (DOI:10.1103/PhysRevLett.119.174502)