Enhancing and Diversifying Supply Research Highlights

Al-Ce alloys designated by Aluminum Association

CMI developed alloys that have passed key commercial milestone, and have been accorded official designations by The Aluminum Association, opening the door to global industrial applications

Al-Ce alloy-based turbocharger compressor wheels from 6” to 0.3” produced by Additive Manufacturing using newly designated aluminum-cerium alloy.

Improved flotation of bastnaesite from ore promises greater rare earth output from mines

CMI researchers at Colorado School of Mines and Oak Ridge National Laboratory tested locked-cycle novel flotation collectors and recovered up to 78 percent of earth oxide with REO grades up to 69 percent

Flotation experiment, showing bastnaesite-rich froth

Forward-osmosis technology concentrates lithium chloride, enabling recovery from geothermal brine

CMI research at Oak Ridge National Laboratory on energy-efficient concentration of lithium chloride recovered from geothermal brine

Molten fluorides for rare earth electro-reduction

CMI researchers create model for molten fluorides for rare earth electro-reduction

image of lab equipment at Colorado School of Mines

Tools for ligand design now more powerful

CMI research improves tools for ligand design

Efficient leaching eliminates costly cracking step in rare earth mining

CMI research shows efficient leaching eliminates costly cracking step in rare earth mining

CMI achieves more efficient, less polluting rare earth metal production

CMI research achieves more efficient, less polluting rare earth metal production

Dramatic energy savings result from new molten-salt method for graphite synthesis

CMI research finds dramatic energy savings result from new molten-salt method for graphite synthesis

SEM image of hard carbon after electrochemical treatment

Direct reduction slashes Al-Ce alloy cost

Successful manufacturing demonstration of the production of Al-Ce alloy using direct reduction of commercial-grade cerium carbonate and oxide

colonies of Al11Ce3 inter-metallic phase responsible for strength

Thermodynamic informed Al-Ce alloy development for Advanced Manufacturing (AM)

CMI, with CALPHAD, developed an Aluminum-Cerium-Magnesium-Silicon alloy with improved casting and mechanical properties

Aluminum-Cerium-Magnesium-Silicon alloy with voids