No 1 source of global mining news and opinion
The energy transition and digitalization have made critical minerals top of mind for policymakers and investors alike. However, little is said about the role that these minerals, including graphite, play in the defense sector, and the impact of supply chain disruptions on the world’s militaries.
Chinese leaders are seeking to modernize the People’s Liberation Army capabilities in all domains of warfare. On land, the PLA continues to modernize its equipment and focus on combined arms and joint training. At sea, the world’s largest navy has a battle force of more than 370 ships and submarines. In the past two years, China’s third aircraft carrier was launched, along with its third amphibious assault ship. The PLA Air Force “is rapidly catching up to western air forces,” the official said.
China is also the world’s largest producer of gallium, germanium, natural and synthetic graphite — and the largest import source for these materials. While Syrah Resources was expected to start producing natural graphite-based anode materials in December, the US is otherwise 100% dependent on China for graphite imports.
It isn’t only China. Russia supplies NATO members with other key defense metals, including aluminum, nickel and titanium. This is a complete 180 from before World War Two, when the Allies controlled most of the world’s minerals, a fact that proved instrumental in eventually defeating the Axis powers.The foundation says there are three main risks that could lead to mineral shortages: foreign export controls; rising military demand amid great power competition, including a possible US-China conflict; and disrupted sea-lanes.
Graphite is found in a wide range of consumer devices, including smartphones, laptops, tablets and other wireless devices, earbuds and headsets. Besides being integral to electric vehicles — graphite is used in the anode part of the lithium-ion battery — graphite is found in lubricants, nuclear reactors, graphene sheets, and in pencil lead.
These materials have several applications in aeronautics. In aircrafts and helicopters , aluminium, natural graphite, and titanium find their main application in the airframe, where they are used in the body, wings, tail, nose, and axis of the aircraft. They are also employed in the production of propulsion systems’ components such as combustors, nozzle, drive shaft, and propellers, as well as in landing gears, connectors, and electronic systems.
A graphite bomb was used against Iraq in the First Gulf War , neutralizing about 85% of the country’s electricity facilities. A US-made graphite bomb was deployed during the NATO military intervention in former Yugoslavia , where it disabled more than 70% of national grid electricity supply. that the enemy might detect and use to target troops in the field.
Graphite itself is used for jet and rocket engine nozzles and Carbon/Graphite vanes. Impellers and rotors move aviation fuel safely without the dangers of creating sparks to ignite fuel.A White House report on critical supply chains showed that graphite demand for clean energy applications will require 25 times more graphite by 2040 than was produced in 2020.
The reason graphite works so well as a writing material, and industrial lubricant, is because the layers of atoms slip easily over one another. Each of those single layer of atoms is graphene.Graphene has unique combinations of optical, electrical and mechanical properties: The bipolar plates in proton-exchange membrane fuel cells, one of the most popular technologies, require large flake, high-purity graphite. Fine grained graphite is also used as additives and fillers, but this is a relatively small component of fuel cells.Finally, high-purity graphite is used as catalyst substrate, enabling the precious catalyst metals to be in close contact with the reactant chemicals, while avoiding any contamination.
According to the USGS, the battery end-use market for graphite has already leaped by 250% since 2018. It’s thought that battery demand could gobble up well over 1.6 million tonnes of natural flake graphite per year. Given that demand for graphite is accelerating at a rate never seen before, and the EV industry is gradually shifting towards natural graphite, the impending supply crunch could get serious.With the exception of Syrah Resources, which has a processing plant in the US not a mine, the United States currently imports 100% of its graphite. Another way of saying this is the US has zero production.
This is why graphite is firmly placed on the US government’s critical minerals list, and is identified as one of five key battery minerals that are at risk of supply disruptions.Ahead of the Herd newsletter, aheadoftheherd.com, hereafter known as AOTH. AOTH/Richard Mills makes no guarantee, representation or warranty and accepts no responsibility or liability as to its accuracy or completeness.
United States Latest News, United States Headlines
Similar News:You can also read news stories similar to this one that we have collected from other news sources.
Tyson, Paul fight at AT&T Stadium being called the ‘biggest fight of the 21st century'Heavyweight champion Mike Tyson is coming out of retirement to face YouTuber-turned-boxer Jake Paul.
Read more »
Jake Paul vs. Mike Tyson fight being called the ‘biggest fight of the 21st century'Heavyweight champion Mike Tyson is coming out of retirement to face YouTuber-turned-boxer Jake Paul.
Read more »
Vince Young fight knockout caught on video in wild fight at Houston barFormer NFL quarterback Vince Young was sucker punched during a bar altercation in Houston, sparked by a conversation about race, as captured in a wild video footage.
Read more »
MLW star AJ Francis talks fight for control of Bomaye Fight Club, teases new membersMajor League Wrestling star A.J. Francis has his sights set on the Bomaye Fight Club's leader Alex Kane and wants to take over as the group's new figurehead.
Read more »
UFC Fight Night: Expert picks, best bets for Tuivasa-TyburaWho has the edge in this week's UFC Fight Night? MMA coaches and betting insiders make their picks.
Read more »
Mike Tyson Training for Fight Against Jake PaulMike Tyson is back in the ring to train for his fight against Jake Paul. The 57-year-old will fight the YouTuber turned boxer at AT&T Stadium July 20. Tyson posted a video of himself training for the fight, throwing powerful jabs and powerful body shots at his trainer. However, one former UFC star claims the video was fake.
Read more »