Scandium Canada fait le point sur ses alliages exclusifs d'aluminium et de scandium

Executive Summary

• Scandium Canada announced breakthrough test results for its modified AA535 and AA7075 aluminium‑scandium alloys, demonstrating crack‑free laser powder‑bed fusion (L‑PBF) printing and high mechanical performance.
• The company created a new commercialisation unit, Scandium +, to accelerate market adoption of these Al‑Sc powders and pursue additional alloy development.
• A new international patent application covering the technology was filed on 17 Sept 2025, and a short‑term commercial opportunity study with Productique Québec is underway, targeting completion by mid‑Oct 2025.

Key Details

• Alloy Performance:
• Relative densities > 99 % in optimal L‑PBF conditions.
• Ultimate tensile strength (UTS) of ~330–380 MPa as‑built; heat‑treated alloys show 17–25 % UTS increase.
• Reduced scandium content lowers cost and improves sustainability while maintaining grain‑refinement benefits.
• Process Advantages:
• Exclusive mixing using ZrH₂ minimizes micro‑cracking and porosity, expanding printable parameter windows (laser power & scan speed).
• Scandium + Division Objectives:
• Deploy scandium to high‑need markets.
• Commercialise patented Al‑Sc alloys (AA7075/Sc/Zr and AA535/Sc/Zr/Ce) across multiple sectors.
• Focus on value‑added scandium alloy applications.
• Intellectual Property: International patent application filed under the PCT on 17 Sept 2025, protecting the new alloy formulations and processing methods.
• Commercialisation Study: Ongoing with Productique Québec (announced 22 Aug 2025) evaluating ~10 short‑term commercial opportunities out of >140 potential uses; results expected mid‑Oct 2025.
• Quote – Dr. Luc Duchesne, Director, Scandium +:
  “Our exclusive alloys directly address the critical need for printable, high‑strength, lightweight metals in aerospace, automotive and additive manufacturing, accelerating the shift to lighter, more energy‑efficient structures.”

Notable Quotes

• Dr. Luc Duchesne, Director of Scandium + and Scientific Director:
  “These alloys eliminate hot cracking during L‑PBF, enabling reliable production of high‑performance components and supporting global sustainability and energy‑efficiency goals.”

Materiality Assessment: Material – Positive (significant R&D breakthrough with clear commercialisation pathway).