Scandium Canada Ltd. (TSX-V: SCD) announced the signing of a mutual non-disclosure agreement with the University of Waterloo's Multi-Scale Additive Manufacturing Laboratory (MSAM) to explore additive manufacturing of aluminum-scandium alloys. The collaboration aims to accelerate the commercialization of these advanced materials, targeting cost reduction in Laser Powder Bed Fusion (L-PBF) processes.
The agreement follows a visit earlier this month by Luc Duchesne, Ph.D., Chief Science Officer of Scandium Canada and Head of its Scandium+ division, to MSAM's facilities at Catalyst137 in Kitchener, Ontario. MSAM, recognized as one of Canada's leading additive manufacturing research centers, operates with over $25 million in state-of-the-art equipment and has built a strong international reputation for metal 3D printing, process optimization, and development of specialized alloys.
The research will be led by Professor Mihaela Vlasea, Ph.D., Co-Director of MSAM and Canada Research Chair (Tier II) in Sustainable Additive Manufacturing, with support from Mohsen K. Keshavarz, Ph.D., Research Associate. The work will be coordinated by Luc Duchesne from Scandium Canada.
“Collaborating with one of the most respected additive manufacturing laboratories in the world marks an important step forward for Scandium Canada and for our Scandium+ division,” said Guy Bourassa, CEO of Scandium Canada. “This initiative reflects our commitment to generating concrete commercial opportunities for aluminum-scandium alloys. Working alongside MSAM, a top-tier Canadian research and development organization with deep market expertise and a strong business network, represents a significant step toward achieving our objectives.”
“Our first target is to develop processes to reduce the cost of advanced manufacturing using Laser Powder Bed Fusion (L-PBF) to broaden the spectrum of market opportunities,” said Luc Duchesne. “It is exciting to engage with the industry ecosystem to address pressing supply chain needs for metal additive manufacturing,” added Mihaela Vlasea.
Aluminum-scandium alloys offer enhanced strength, weldability, and corrosion resistance, making them attractive for aerospace, automotive, and defense applications. However, high scandium costs have limited widespread adoption. By optimizing additive manufacturing processes, the partnership aims to lower production costs and enable new applications.
Scandium Canada, through its Scandium+ division, focuses on research, development, and commercialization of scandium uses. The company also advances its Crater Lake mining project in Quebec, which could become a leading primary scandium source. The collaboration with MSAM aligns with Scandium Canada's strategy to integrate upstream mining with downstream alloy development.
“We are pleased to collaborate with Scandium Canada on this important initiative,” said Mihaela Vlasea. “This partnership has the potential to advance the state of the art in additive manufacturing and create new opportunities for Canadian innovation.”
The agreement is subject to customary forward-looking statements and risks, as detailed in the company's filings on SEDAR+.
