Graphite used for grey cast-iron tests typically trades at US$650-700 per tonne (A$1040-$1120/t) in Kazakhstan.
Carbon replacements are a necessary ingredient in the production of pig-iron. Unfavourable contaminants such as phosphorous and sulphur are burnt off during the process, which also burns off carbon which must be replaced in precision quantities to achieve the desired levels for each application.
Sarytogan’s Micro80C graphite has proven to be ideal for the purpose, as the graphite crystallises as flakes making the cast iron hard and brittle.
Cast iron is extremely versatile due to its relatively low melting point, great fluidity and ability to be easily cast. It’s also known for being simple to machine, tough against wear and tear and resistant to deformation.
It is used in a range of everyday applications such as manhole covers, storm grates and park benches and in mechanical appliances in machinery and car parts such as cylinder heads, engine blocks and gearbox cases.
Sarytogan says ductile cast-iron made with Micro80C graphite assimilates 92 per cent of the added material to achieve an alloy composition of 2.8 per cent carbon and 1.5 per cent silicon with low impurities.
The results meet local Kazakh standards as well as equivalent standards in the United States, the United Kingdom and Japan.
Ductile iron is a more modern alloy developed in the mid-20th century. It is created by adding a small amount of magnesium to molten iron, which causes the graphite to form in nodules rather than flakes. This gives the material the ability to bend without breaking.
Ductile iron is known for its excellent strength, toughness, durability and is more resistant to cracking under stress. It is commonly used in high-strength and ductility applications, such as pipes, automotive parts and machinery.
Ductile iron is also more corrosion-resistant than cast iron, making it a better choice for outdoor applications. Historically, ductile iron traditionally has been more expensive than cast iron due to its more complicated chemical makeup.
Sarytogan also has a 20-tonne trial mining sample undergoing milling tests. When completed, a 1t sample of the milled ore will be flown to Australia to produce a flotation concentrate, before it is sent to the US for purification. Eventually, the company will ready hundreds of kilograms of product samples for machine testing, customer trials and validation as a recarburiser.
From there, Sarytogan will focus on placing as many carbon units into as many markets as possible from its high-grade mineral resource, making it one for market punters to watch.
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