Setopia Subsidiary GCM "Successful Manufacture of High-Purity Neodymium Metal"

Setopia and GCM announced on the 22nd that quality tests on domestically trial-produced neodymium metal confirmed the manufacture of high-purity neodymium metal with an average purity of approximately 99.8%. The companies stated that the carbon content was 124 ppm (0.0124%) or less, and trace elements such as Ce, La, Tb, and W were also detected at 443 ppm (0.0443%) or less, all within the standard commercial transaction limits.

On the 3rd, about 15 external personnel, including executives and employees of Setopia and GCM, the Korea Institute of Industrial Technology (KITECH), the Korea Institute of Science and Technology (KIST), and domestic investors, attended a demonstration of the direct smelting and production of neodymium metal. After randomly selecting the produced neodymium metal, precise compositional analysis was conducted through KITECH’s Rare Metals Center and KIST.

Each institution confirmed the presence of neodymium, praseodymium, and other impurity elements using wavelength dispersive X-ray fluorescence spectrometry (XRF) for accurate and reliable analysis results. To detect extremely trace amounts of impurity elements, they used a high-resolution inductively coupled plasma mass spectrometer (ICP), a precise analytical method.

Additionally, carbon analysis (CS) was performed to verify the carbon content in the metal, which is an important factor influenced by carbon-based auxiliary materials, a critical aspect in the typical sale of neodymium, thereby enhancing the external accuracy of key analytical elements.

A GCM official explained, “The most important factor determining the purity of neodymium metal is fundamentally the base purity of the oxide, and the quality is so dependent on the smelting technician’s process capability that the role of skilled technicians is crucial.” He added, “This is why China has included smelting technologies in its export prohibition list.”

Typically, the carbon content in neodymium metal during transactions must be produced below 500 ppm (0.05%), and generally, if it is below 300 ppm (0.03%), it is recognized and traded as high-quality neodymium metal.

The GCM official noted, “A noteworthy achievement in this trial production compositional analysis is that the average carbon content of each metal sample was 124 ppm (0.0124%) or less, showing excellent results.” He added, “This demonstrates that the smelting technicians’ level determining carbon content during the process possesses smelting technology that is not inferior to that of China.”

He continued, “It is highly significant to have established the first emergency smelting production system for neodymium metal using Vietnamese rare earth neodymium oxide as raw material domestically. We will continue to complete a self-reliant supply value chain to avoid being affected by international concerns over rare earth neodymium (permanent magnet) supply.” He also stated, “Through this mass-production trial, we have succeeded in smelting high-purity neodymium metal, and we plan to proceed with detailed discussions, including sharing this analysis report with global permanent magnet companies that have shown continuous interest, and to begin full-scale mass production preparations at Vietnam GCM VINA based on demand forecasting.”

Meanwhile, recently, China’s Ministry of Commerce announced a new 'List of Technologies Prohibited and Restricted for Export,' including technologies related to rare earth mining, beneficiation, and smelting in the export prohibition list, showing moves to strengthen China’s resource diplomacy by suppressing technology development related to rare earth material industries outside China.

The United States has also responded with additional tough measures, deepening the conflict surrounding rare earth materials.

In response, GCM (Global Critical Materials), a subsidiary of Setopia, has established an emergency production base equipped with a mass-production system to produce neodymium (NdPr) metal domestically in case of emergencies, preparing for supply chain concerns amid the US-China conflict over rare earth materials.

This content was produced with the assistance of AI translation services.