China Clamps Down on Rare Earth Elements Exports
January 2nd, 2010Via: Independent:
Britain and other Western countries risk running out of supplies of certain highly sought-after rare metals that are vital to a host of green technologies, amid growing evidence that China, which has a monopoly on global production, is set to choke off exports of valuable compounds.
Failure to secure alternative long-term sources of rare earth elements (REEs) would affect the manufacturing and development of low-carbon technology, which relies on the unique properties of the 17 metals to mass-produce eco-friendly innovations such as wind turbines and low-energy lightbulbs.
China, whose mines account for 97 per cent of global supplies, is trying to ensure that all raw REE materials are processed within its borders. During the past seven years it has reduced by 40 per cent the amount of rare earths available for export.
A.W. Castleman at Penn State is making cheap small
compounds look like far more expensive elementals. (One example: zirconium monoxide and palladium are ‘brothers’.)
If ZrO can be made to behave like Pd, this whole
China Syndrome may amount to a hill of beans.
Worth looking into.