Molybdenum Uses of Molybdenum By far the main use of Molybdenum is as an alloying agent in steels, cast irons and superalloys. When added to steel as an alloy, Molybdenum serves to increase the strength, hardness, bondability, toughness, corrosion resistance, thermal conductivity, electrical conductivity and ability to operate at higher temperatures and pressures, all whilst reducing thermal expansion, weight and cost of the end-product. There is rapidly growing demand for the metal as a catalyst across a range of applications, including more environmental and emission friendly power generation. First Uses of Molybdenum Source Data: 2012 CRU report and Thomson Creek 2012 AGM Major industrial uses of Molybdenum include: n P ower Generation: n S olar generation – Molybdenum is used in a new generation of solar panels that are revolutionising the solar industry due to their thinness, flexibility and lower cost. n C oal generation – Molybdenum-coated furnaces and Mo-steel turbines allow power stations to operate at higher temperatures, producing more efficient energy with fewer emissions. Molybdenum metal is also used as a smoke suppressant to reduce particulate emissions from power stations. n N uclear generation – Molybdenum also allows nuclear reactors and turbines to run hotter, safer and more efficiently as well as acting as a heat and radiation shield. n C atalyst – In addition to sulphur removal from coal emissions and petroleum products, Molybdenum may also have a role in the ‘hydrogen economy’ of the future, with researchers in the USA and Switzerland developing Molybdenum as a substitute for Platinum electrodes as a more cost effective method of extracting hydrogen from water molecules. 1 Dart Mining NL · www.dartmining.com.au Markets and Opportunities Nanotechnology – The use of Molybdenum is also growing in Nano-technology, as a heat sink and high temperature conductor that can make computers smaller, faster and more efficient. n C onstruction – Molybdenum increases the strength of constructional steels, without adding substantial weight; reduces the expansion/contraction of the steels with changes in temperature due to the metals very low coefficient of thermal expansion (also increasing bondability); and increases steels corrosion resistance, especially in highly corrosive environments such as those exposed to seawater (desalination plants, coastal buildings and offshore oil/gas platforms). n A erospace – Molybdenum Super Alloys are used as components in both Jet (ie turbine blades) and Rocket engines due to their ability to sustain very high temperatures without adding weight or loosing strength. n A utomotive – The features of Mo-alloyed steels makes them ideal for engine components (especially in high wear items such as piston rings) and as a lightweight structural steel in car chassis’, producing lighter, more fuel-efficient vehicles. n S hipbuilding – Lightweight and corrosion resistant Mo-steels are an essential component of modern shipbuilding. n P etroleum Industry – Molybdenum is of growing importance to the petroleum industry where it adds corrosion resistance in pipelines, offshore drilling and as a catalyst to remove sulphur and other impurities from crude oil and other petrochemical products, most importantly Diesel. n Molybdenum is a high-added value base metal, which is currently indispensable to modern steelmaking and is a metal of important future significance, with many new applications emerging. While almost 80% of the world’s current Molybdenum output goes into the production of speciality steel alloys, Molybdenum’s natural properties are such that the metal is seeing a marked increase in demand for uses in a new generation of cleaner, greener and more efficient technologies. It appears today that global Molybdenum demand is poised for structural growth over the next few decades. Major industrial uses of Molybdenum also include: n C hemical Applications: n Lubricants – such as Moly Grease containing pure Molybdenum disulphide (MoS2) and high performance motor oils, are valued for their ability to work effectively at high temperatures and high pressures. n A dhesives (Molybdenum trioxide) and electricallyconducting Ceramics (Molybdenum disilicide) n P igments – commonly used pigment in paints and plastics. n Tools and High Speed Steels – Both tools and the machines that make tools themselves utilise Molybdenum to provide extra strength, wear and corrosion resistance, as well as functioning more efficiently at higher temperatures (ie cutting blades). n M edical – Molybdenum is used in some low-voltage X-ray anodes for uses in clinical diagnosis. The radioactive isotope molybdenum-99 is also used for medical imaging. n Nutritional Supplements & Fertilisers – Molybdenum is used in these growing industries with existing Molybdenum use. Drivers of Demand for Molybdenum Correlation to Growth in Steel Demand Since the main use of Molybdenum is as an alloying agent in steel production, the consumption of Molybdenum is closely linked to the production of Steel. Comparison of Global Crude Steel Production and Global Molybdeuym Mine Production Source: World Steel, IMOA and Roskill The continuing industrialisation and development of economies such as China, Brazil, India, Indonesia and much of Southeast Asia, will increase Molybdenum demand with more factories, machinery, high-rise buildings, automobiles than ever, as well as the required infrastructure associated with these developments. All these staples of development are heavily dependent on steel consumption. The United States and Europe will continue to maintain their steel-intensive infrastructure as well. A percentage of Molybdenum is contained in this overall Asian and global steel consumption in some form. Exposure to Quickly Growing New Applications The growing global trend to reduce carbon emissions will drive an increase in the demand for Molybdenum. The metal’s unique properties will be used to improve existing technologies and will help to create new technologies. Primary future growth drivers of the Molybdenum market are: n G rowth in demand for Molybdenum-bearing stainless steels in power and desalination plants, chemical and petrochemical plants, including replacing lower grade steels containing little or no molybdenum. n G rowth in wind generation, where strong Molybdenum-bearing steel forgings are required in the turbine gearboxes. n T he retrofitting of coal power stations to run at higher temperature and reduced carbon emissions. n G rowth in demand for Molybdenum-bearing Advanced High Strength Steels (AHSS) in motor vehicle components, oil and gas pipelines, hydroelectric stations. n G rowth in demand for High Speed Steels used in items like specialty tools and drill rods and bits used to access oil and gas reserves. n G rowth in contemporary nuclear power generation, which utilises high-grade Molybdenum-bearing stainless steel components. n T he growing production of diesel-fuelled cars and light trucks, both requiring low sulphur fuel, and utilising Molybdenum-bearing catalysts (NickelMolybdenum and Cobalt-Molybdenum catalysts). n T he increasing use of Molybdenum superalloy components for growing orders of large jet airliners (such as the A380, B747, A350). Global Molybdenum Consumption Source Data: 2012 CRU report and Thomson Creek 2012 AGM 2 Dart Mining NL · www.dartmining.com.au What is Molybdenum? Molybdenum (Mo), element number 42, is a silvery white, malleable, transitional metal located between Chromium (Cr) and Tungsten (W) on the periodic table. Molybdenum has many natural and unique properties, which make it such an essential ingredient in many applications, current and emerging. These unique properties include having: n The 6th highest melting point of any element (2,623°C); n The lowest coefficient of thermal expansion in engineering materials; n One of the highest thermal conductivities of all elements; and n A density only 25% higher than Iron. Molybdenum was first identified as a separate element in 1778 by Swedish Scientist Carl Wilhelm Scheele, and was first produced as a metal powder in 1782. Molybdenum as an economic mineral in nature occurs primarily as Molybdenite (MoS2), a soft (1.5 on the Mohs hardness scale), platy mineral, similar in colour and appearance to Lead and Graphite. For over a century after its discovery, Molybdenum served no useful process until its alloying abilities were recognised, and it was first used commercially in armour plate steel by a French company in 1891. Demand for Molybdenum spiked during World War I for use in armour plating, with Molybdenum alloys being of equal or greater strength than Tungsten alloys, and with the added benefit of Molybdenum’s atomic weight being almost half that of Tungsten. This demand helped the development of the world’s first large-scale primary Molybdenum mine at Climax, Colorado, USA, which came online in 1918. Coarse Mo mineralisation from the Unicorn deposit (Hole DUNDD008 at 482.9m depth) Molybdenum Production Molybdenum production is relatively small but growing quickly, with 220,000t produced in 2010 and 253,000t produced in 2011. Approximately 53% of global production is currently sourced from primary Molybdenum mines (led by production in China, USA, Chile and Canada) with 47% of supply as a by-product of Copper mines (led by production in USA, Chile, Peru and Canada). Total reserves are estimated at 10 million tonnes, and are mostly concentrated in China (4.3 Mt), US (2.7 Mt) and Chile (1.2 Mt). Source: USGS - http://minerals. usgs.gov/minerals/pubs/commodity/molybdenum/ Molybdenum is extracted after mining of ore from a simple crush, grind and floatation method that produces a ‘raw concentrate’ of Molybdenum Disulphide (MoS2) or Molybdenite, the primary ore mineral, containing 50-55% Molybdenum by weight. Further processing involves smelting of the metal to produce an Oxide or FerroMolybdenum concentrate. Global Production Source: 2012 CRU report and Thomson Creek 2012 AGM Top Mo Producers Source: IMOA 3 Dart Mining NL · www.dartmining.com.au
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