Rare Earths As A Geopolitical Leverage
Rare earth elements account for a small share of global metals markets but remain critical for electronics, defense, and energy systems. China continues to dominate supply and processing capacity. Governments, including the United States, are investing in alternative supply chains. New mining and refining projects are under development, though scaling remains limited compared with existing Chinese capacity.
A Revolutionary Approach To Metal Refining
Zach Detweiler, co-founder and CEO of Radify Metals, said conventional refining relies on heat or water-based processes to remove oxygen from metal oxides. These methods require significant energy and generate industrial waste. Radify Metals is developing an alternative approach to convert metal oxides into pure metals with reduced byproducts.
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The Promise Of Plasma Technology
Plasma-based processes can remove oxygen from metal oxides, producing metal and water vapor as output. High costs have historically limited industrial use. Radify Metals said it has developed a reactor combining power electronics and materials handling systems to improve efficiency and scalability.
Scaling For Resilience And Flexibility
The company’s reactor is designed to produce metals such as dysprosium and samarium, which are used in magnets and electronic components. A modular design allows production units to operate at smaller scale compared with traditional systems. Detweiler said this flexibility enables switching between metals such as titanium and zirconium depending on market conditions.
A Vision Beyond Rare Earths
Radify Metals operates from Campbell, California, with a team of five employees. The company plans to increase output from several kilograms per day to a pilot reactor producing up to 100 kilograms daily. In addition to rare earth elements, the company is testing applications for metals including hafnium, scandium, titanium, iron, and aluminium.
An Industry Poised For Transformation
New refining technologies are being developed as countries seek to reduce dependence on existing supply chains. Radify Metals said its approach focuses on lower emissions and flexible production. Industry participants are monitoring whether such technologies can scale to commercial levels.
