Liquidmetal Technologies Inc (LQMT)

[BLOnGO]

The EVP-HPDC process paves the way for the large-scale application of BMGs.

My initial impression is that the new BMG casting technology, EPV-HPDC, discussed in the article is an EONTEC improvement over the current LQMT industry standard. The LQMT method is described as having an issue with uniform heating of the feed stock - an inherent “Achilles Heel” of the process. The proprietary nature of the LQMT process is also characterized as a limiting factor affecting the advancement of the overall technology leading to viability of mass production.

My point is in the form of some (I hope not completely rhetorical) questions. How does all this affect LQMT’s relevance (and associated value)? Is LQMT involved with EONTEC’s efforts in advancing BMG mass production technology? Will LQMT benefit from Prof Li’s (& EONTEC’s) improvements? If LQMT is not involved in the R&D to improve BMG production technology and is unable to benefit from those improvements because it no longer directly manufactures BMG products, how will an improved, non LQMT manufacturing process help LQMT’s bottom line? If the answer is that by making mass production economically viable/competitive regardless of the process, the flood gates for use of LM106c across a range of industries are opened wide and therefore revenues naturally come back to LQMT, then that would of course be wonderful and Huzzah. But would that not still require LQMT to sell product? Because I don’t think Li/EON/Yihao are going to cycle revenue back to LQMT if it plays no role in the design, sales, or manufacture of the BMG products they are cranking out. I mean, who would? Unless of course LQMT is guaranteed royalties based on the use of LM106c and I have not heard anyone with any knowledge of whats’s going on seriously propose that scenario.

Simultaneously spitballin’ and looking for insight. Good Luck To All Longs.

Currently, the main technology available for the large-scale forming of BMG parts with a complex shape is the injection molding process developed by Liquidmetal Technologies, Inc. [11]. In this approach, the mother alloy is melted by induction heating in a horizontal cold-crucible, and then molten metal is confined to a specific area by a magnetic field. When the metal is completely melted, the molten metal is injected into the mold using a plunger rod, forming a BMG part. However, there is an Achilles heel in this approach, that is, the non-uniformity of the temperature field during heating, mainly caused by the horizontal layout of the cold-crucible. The non-uniformity of the heating would result in the sometimes-incomplete melting of the master alloy, thereby weakening the glass forming ability [12] and inducing the instability of the product quality [13,14]. Besides, as a commercialized technology, the injection molding of a BMG route is very confidential, and few results have been reported in an academic paper, which is disadvantageous to the prosperity of the related disciplines. Therefore, exploring a new but more general approach to achieve the large-scale production of BMG parts becomes increasingly urgent and necessary.