Niocorp Developments Ltd (NB)

[grunt23]

Good Morning:

As we wait, here are a couple of links related to the use of our scandium, 2016 interview but very applicable.

https://www.aleris.com/wp-content/uploads/2016/02/AL-2342_012-Aktualisierung-BR-AlMgSc-2015-06-03-WEB.pdf

http://www.aerospacemanufacturinganddesign.com/article/the-future-of-aircraft-metals-appears-february-2016/


A section of the interview:

ALERIS
Dr. Matthias Miermeister, manager, field engineering global aerospace, Aleris Rolled Products Germany, discusses his company’s new aluminum-magnesium-scandium alloy.
AM&D: What are the properties of Aleris’ new aluminum-magnesium-scandium alloy?
Matthias Miermeister: When Boeing introduced the 787 Dreamliner and Airbus the A350, everyone thought the next generation of planes would be made of composites, but we have to say now that is not so. For example, Boeing’s 777X will have composite wings but a metallic fuselage. We have the fourth generation of aluminum-lithium alloys where the lithium content has been reduced significantly, which offers more weight savings from density reduction. Aleris has co-developed with Airbus an alloy of aluminum-magnesium-scandium (AlMgSc) – designated AA5028 – which offers an even lower density than aluminum-lithium.
AM&D: How much lower?
MM: AlMgSc is 4% lighter than 2024 aluminum, the most-used aircraft alloy today.
AM&D: How was AlMgSc developed?
MM: The AlMgSc technology started more than 15 years ago with a German government-funded program in which Airbus participated, along with Aleris and other companies. Airbus wanted us to continue to develop AlMgSc. The first reason was its low density and lighter weight, and the second, Airbus is interested in welding technology. The A380 features laser welded panels in the lower fuselage based on 6000 series aluminum. A big advantage is that compared to typical metal fuselage, stringers are riveted to the skin. When you laser weld, you don’t need a stringer foot to put the rivet through, so you save about 30% of the stringer material. Additionally, laser welding speed is much faster than riveting.
With AlMgSc, you take a flat sheet and a straight stringer and weld it, then put it into an oven at 325°C for two hours. You get nearly 100% of the strength back. It’s an annealing process. Once customers become aware of this, they believe the material can be used for applications with elevated temperatures, such as wing leading-edges heated with anti-icing devices or engine nozzle inlet lips. We are supporting this research and development activity, but our main focus target for the time being is fuselage sheet.
AM&D: Can it be substituted in new or existing aircraft?
MM: It is a full one-to-one replacement for 2024 aluminum. You can take out the 2024 and put in AlMgSc, and you have 4% weight savings without any design change.


Happy Investing.