Agent-Based Modeling for By-Product Metal Supply—A Case Study on Indium

With rapid development and deployment of clean energy technology, demand for certain minor metals has increased significantly. However, many such metals are by-products of various host metals and are economically infeasible to extract independently. Meanwhile, by-product metals present in the mined ores may not be extracted even if they are sent to smelters along with host metal concentrates if it is not economically favorable for the producers. This dependency poses potential supply risks to by-product metals. Indium is a typical by-product metal, mainly from zinc mining and refining, and is important for flat panel displays, high efficiency lighting, and emerging thin-film solar panel production. Current indium supply–demand forecast models tend to overlook the volatile and competitive nature of minor metal market and are mostly based on top-down approaches. Therefore, a bottom-up agent-based model can shed new light on the market dynamics and possible outcome of future indium supply–demand relationship. A multi-layered model would also be helpful for identifying possible bottlenecks of indium supply and finding solutions. This work takes indium as an example of minor metal market and sets up an agent-based model to predict future market situation and supply–demand balance. The market is modeled as a Cournot competition oligopolistic market by refineries with capacity restriction based on host metal production. The model maintains active Nash equilibrium each year to simulate competitions between suppliers. The model is validated and verified by historical data and sensitivity analysis. Several scenarios are also explored to illustrate possible uncertainties of the market.

ASSESSMENT OF OUTDOOR RADIATION EXPOSURE LEVELS AND HUMAN HEALTH RISK IN A MAJOR SCRAP METAL MARKET IN ABUJA

Background: Scrap metal can contain sources of radiation with the associated environmental and health risks. Radioactive substances can become associated with scrap metal in various ways and if not discovered they can be incorporated into steel and non-ferrous metals through the melting process. This can cause health hazards to workers and to the public as well as environmental concerns Objectives: this study aimed at assessing the outdoor radiation exposure levels and human health risk in a major scrap metal market in Abuja, FCT. Method: An in-situ measurement approach was adopted using a factory calibrated Radiagem-2000 Universal Survey Meter and a handheld Global Positioning System (Garmin GPS 76S) equipment. The monitor was suspended in air at one meter above the ground level. Readings were obtained between the hours of 1200 and 1600 hours since the exposure rate meter has a maximum response to environmental radiation within these hours. Results: The results showed that the average values for the outdoor exposure dose rate for the three location ranges from 0.173±0.042 μSv/h to 0.177±0.046 μSv/h with a mean of 0.176±0.045 μSv/h. These values, though, slightly higher than the standard background radiation of 0.133 μSv/h,are below the ICRP maximum permissible limit of 0.57 μSv/h. The results also show that the AEDE values are lower than the ICRP recommended limits of 1.0 mSv/y for the public and 20 mSv/y for occupationally exposed workers. The ELCR ranges from 0.5926 x 10-3 to 0.6049 x 10-3 with a mean of 0.6008 x 10-3 which is 2.1 times higher than the world’s average. The dosage to organs received shows that the testes have the highest dose while the liver has the lowest dose. The result of the dose to the organs showed that all the values are below the international tolerable limits. Conclusion: Generally, The radiological assessment shows that the study area does not constitute any immediate radiological health effect on the workers and the general public due to radiation exposure rate.

Assessment of potential efficient development of the World ocean ferromanganese nodules in the context of global copper, nickel, cobalt and manganese market evolution

The paper analyzes implications of ferromanganese nodule mining and copper, nickel, cobalt and manganese production for their land-based producers. Potential scenarios are considered for consumption development, onshore production and long-term development of these metals’ mineral bases through 2035. It is shown that each metal market could be undersupplied over this period; this shortage can be offset by deepsea production. However, conditions and deficit emergence for various metals vary greatly. As a result, coincidence of nodule mining with the earliest deficit signs in the remaining markets will lead to oversupply, which will negatively affect onshore production, new mining and exploration projects; this will also reduce profitability of deepsea mining even making it uneconomic. It is not until 2030 that nodule mining involving copper, nickel, cobalt and manganese production can be implemented with no negative effects for market players.

Mechanical Resistance of High-Speed Steels Cr-W-Mo-V, Si-Mn-Cr-Mo-V-Co, Si-Mn-Cr-Mo-V and Si-Mn-Cr-Mo-V-Co Heat Treated

In the Metal Market, it has been important to understand the structure of steels, so that it is possible to develop new cutting materials at lower costs and more resistant to high temperatures and wear. This is possible by raising the mechanical strength for solid solution in fast steels, ie, addition of alloying elements to the steel in its solid state, the alloys fundamental to this process were: cobalt, manganese, silicon, tungsten and vanadium. Among the thermal treatments, tempering and quenching were used to raise the degree of hardness and strength of the steel. The samples studied were high speed steels HS6-5-3, HS6-5-3-5, K190 e K390. Hardness and metallographic tests were carried out on the samples and with the results generated, it was possible to draw a comparison and understand which alloying elements provide the least oxidation, corrosion and greater impact strength of fast steel.

Producing Steels with Special Properties Using a Jet Heat Treatment System

The prospects of production of special properties steels in the Russian and global metal market are estimated. The necessity of using new types of steels is substantiated. The prospects of introducing steels with special properties developed by PJSC “Magnitogorsk Iron and Steel Company” to the market are determined. Evaluation of measures for the production of large volumes of products showed that there is a problem of a significant increase in the time of manufacturing and delivery of output products to the consumer. As measures to ensure the modernization of the technological complex of the steel enterprise and reduce the time for steel production, the system of jet heat treatment of metal is proposed. According to the results of comparative analysis of the MAGSTRONG H500 and HARDOX 500 alloys used in mining equipment under conditions of increased wear, it was revealed that the proposed method of heat treatment allows one to achieve high wear resistance properties, with high coefficients of tensile strength and toughness.

Modeling of Titanium Metal Market Trends

The recent trends in the world output of titanium-containing concentrates and titanium sponge – intermediate product in the production of metallic titanium – has been studied. The differences in the dynamics of these indicators have been found due to the fact that titanium-containing concentrates are used not only as raw materials for the production of titanium metal. The clusters of the world's major producers of titanium-containing concentrates and titanium sponge have been identified. The range of factors potentially influencing the titanium sponge price dynamics has been studied; the independence of this dynamics from fluctuations in supply and demand and the price of raw materials has been shown. The results of activity of JSC “Corporation VSMPO-AVISMA” were analyzed. The study shows that the main factor determining the sales profit margin of the Corporation is the dynamics of the exchange rate; a quantitative assessment of the degree of such influence has been made.