A new super alloy is as strong as Titanium but as light as Aluminum, and currently needs 27% Scandium. The primary source of Scandium, estimated by one aspiring market participant to be 3.5 tonnes per annum, is in oxide form from old Soviet stockpiles. Other sources of the metal — in oxide form and as a byproduct (around 2.5 tonnes per annum of scandium oxide ) from China, Ukraine and Russia.
Scandium has fairly extensive supplies in coal and other materials that are already mined.
Scandium is expensive right now. The price is up about 4 times from the middle of 2011 Scandium is used for some aluminum alloys, fuel cells and some kinds of lighting.
Brian Wang is a Futurist Thought Leader and a popular Science blogger with 1 million readers per month. His blog Nextbigfuture.com is ranked #1 Science News Blog. It covers many disruptive technology and trends including Space, Robotics, Artificial Intelligence, Medicine, Anti-aging Biotechnology, and Nanotechnology.
Known for identifying cutting edge technologies, he is currently a Co-Founder of a startup and fundraiser for high potential early-stage companies. He is the Head of Research for Allocations for deep technology investments and an Angel Investor at Space Angels.
A frequent speaker at corporations, he has been a TEDx speaker, a Singularity University speaker and guest at numerous interviews for radio and podcasts. He is open to public speaking and advising engagements.