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Notice of Agreement to Jointly Develop Aluminum-Scandium Alloys with Australia-Based Sunrise Energy Metals
R&D to Focus on Strong and Heat-Resistant Alloys for Transportation Parts and Equipment

August 26, 2021

UACJ Corporation (HQ: Chiyoda-ku, Tokyo; President and Representative Director: Miyuki Ishihara) announced today that it has concluded an agreement with Sunrise Energy Metals Limited (HQ: Melbourne; CEO: Sam Riggal) to jointly develop aluminum-scandium alloys for transportation parts and equipment.

Sunrise Energy Metals has been developing applications for scandium*, which it plans to produce from its own mine, and has experts of aluminum scandium alloy development internally. UACJ has collected data and conducted research on aluminum-scandium alloys in the past, but did not foresee practical applications due to the limited supply of scandium. It has recently made serious efforts to develop aluminum-scandium alloys, however, now that scandium production volume is expected to increase going forward.

Aluminum can be made even stronger and more heat resistant if scandium is added to form an alloy. These benefits are particularly useful for transportation parts and equipment which require strong and lightweight materials as well as components that can be used under high-temperature conditions.

UACJ will work to develop such alloys by applying technologies and expertise related to scandium, which will be supplied by Sunrise Energy Metals based on the agreement. UACJ is aiming to quickly commercialize the alloys it develops for transportation parts and equipment to meet the needs of customers.

About Sunrise Energy Metals Limited

Sunrise Energy Metals is a mining development company in Australia. It owns one of the world’s largest scandium ore deposits, located in New South Wales, and is able to produce as much as 200 tons of scandium oxide annually.

* Scandium (Sc) is a rare-earth element with the atomic number 21. It can be added to aluminum, and is used in items such as fuel cells and lighting equipment for large facilities like stadiums.