Positive Spinoffs for Cerium Rare Earth to Be Mined at Steenkampskraal

The rare earth, cerium, will be one of the products beneficiated and sold locally by Steenkampskraal, the rare earth mine in the Western Cape province of South Africa, which is reported to have the world’s highest rare earth grades averaging 14.4%. Cerium is used in a compound for polishing glass in smartphones, computer screens, watches and windows. Cerium is also used in catalytic converters to convert harmful exhaust fumes like carbon monoxide into less harmful compounds such as carbon dioxide. Cerium metal is used in some lighters for its pyrophoric properties, as a catalyst in self-cleaning ovens, in carbon-arc lights for studio and projector lights, and in aluminium alloys. In cast iron it opposes graphitisation and produces a malleable iron. In steels it removes sulphides and oxides and in stainless steel it is used as a precipitation-hardening agent. In magnesium alloys it is used for castings and gives the ability to create complex shapes, adding to the heat resistance properties of the magnesium casting. Cerium compounds are also used to store hydrogen. Cerium is useful because of its small particle size and abrasive quality. In a new test application in the aluminium industry, cerium is being added to molten aluminium to harden finished aluminium products. Researchers have developed aluminium alloys containing cerium that enables these alloys to be easier to work with and more heat tolerant than existing products. Aluminum is used in the auto industry, so even though small quantities are used, it will increase the use of cerium. A one percent penetration into the market for aluminum alloys would translate to a requirement for 3,000 tons of cerium. (Reference: https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2016/06/160604052603.htm) Components made with aluminum-cerium alloys offer several advantages over those made from existing aluminum alloys, including low cost, high castability, reduced heat-treatment requirements and high-temperature stability. Heat tolerance makes aluminum-cerium alloys attractive for use in internal combustion engines. Tests show the new alloys to be stable at 300 degrees Celsius, a temperature that would cause traditional alloys to begin disintegrating. The stability of the compound sometimes eliminates the need for heat treatment, typically needed for aluminum alloys, says ScienceDaily. Not only would aluminum-cerium alloys allow engines to increase fuel efficiency directly by running hotter, they may also increase fuel efficiency indirectly by paving the way for lighter engines. This will mean the introduction of smaller aluminum-based components or with aluminum alloys replacing cast iron components such as cylinder blocks, transmission cases and cylinder heads.