Production of Magnesium Metal

OUSD (R&E) CRITICAL TECHNOLOGY AREA(S): Advanced Materials The technology within this topic is restricted under the International Traffic in Arms Regulation (ITAR), 22 CFR Parts 120-130, which controls the export and import of defense-related material and services, including export of sensitive technical data, or the Export Administration Regulation (EAR), 15 CFR Parts 730-774, which controls dual use items. Offerors must disclose any proposed use of foreign nationals (FNs), their country(ies) of origin, the type of visa or work permit possessed, and the statement of work (SOW) tasks intended for accomplishment by the FN(s) in accordance with the Announcement. Offerors are advised foreign nationals proposed to perform on this topic may be restricted due to the technical data under US Export Control Laws. OBJECTIVE: The Defense Logistics Agency (DLA) in an effort to reduce costly foreign reliance and/or single points of failure, is looking for domestic manufacturing of magnesium metal. The end goal of the project would be for the development of a domestic source that would produce industrial quantities of material with a fully domestic or friendly supply chain. New and novel ideas that would allow for competitive pricing with imported magnesium metal and/or novel feedstocks will be preference. Ideally the production process would be modular and scalable. Research and Development efforts selected under this topic will demonstrate and involve a degree of risk where the technical feasibility of the proposed work has not been fully established. Further, proposed efforts will be judged to be at a Technology Readiness Level (TRL) six (6) or less, but greater than TRL three (3) to receive funding consideration. TRL three (3). (Analytical and Experimental Critical Function and/or Characteristic Proof of Concept) TRL six (6). (System/Subsystem Model or Prototype Demonstration in a Relevant Environment) DESCRIPTION: The Department Of Defense (DoD) has a need for robust magnesium supply chain to support operational requirements. To this end DLA is looking for domestic production of multiple purity levels of magnesium metal. A desire for the process to use friendly sources of feed materials is preferred but not required. The ideal production process will be both modular and easily scalable. PHASE I: Phase I will consist of a full process flow including energy usage and waste generation. Then a lab scale process should be used to confirm the estimates and provide preliminary cost and pricing data. A preliminary economic review must be carried out evaluating the cost vs. currently available products as well as determining the cost of production when using North American precursors to the greatest extent practical. PHASE II: Phase II will consist of making a pilot/ low-rate production plant. Material produced will be characterized for purity. Two (2) sources of raw materials will be identified and tested in this process. Pricing and cost information will be validated. A business case will be generated using both DoD and commercial markets. PHASE III DUAL USE APPLICATIONS: At this point, no specific funding is associated with Phase III. Progress made in Phase I and Phase II should result in the ability to produce to DoD orders and organic growth of business from there. REFERENCES: 1. extension://efaidnbmnnnibpcajpcglclefindmkaj/https://us-west-1-02880055-inspect.menlosecurity.com/safeview-fileserv/tc_download/bf7b74e726c79549a6b39aad13ee11585e896a95e6eb6074945b155a69852c39/?&cid=N52EB4FF12E53_&rid=949415458ad945b74313f2249875f583&file_url=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.hsdl.org%2Fc%2Fview%3Fdocid%3D764766&type=original KEYWORDS: advanced materials