Abstract: A method for preparing high purity alumina (HPA) is provided.

Abstract: A method for extracting copper values from a low grade copper ore feedstock is provided.

Abstract: A method for fabricating an article from an aluminum alloy is provided. The method includes providing an aluminum alloy containing at least 0.04 wt % Sc, at least 0.5 wt % Mn, at least 0.5 wt % Zr, at least 0.05 wt % Mg, and at least 90 wt % Al; casting the alloy into a sheet; subjecting the cast alloy to a thermal cycle which includes raising the temperature of the alloy along a first temperature gradient, holding the temperature of the alloy at a temperature T for a period of time t, and reducing the temperature of the alloy along a second temperature gradient; and utilizing the sheet in a brazing operation.

Abstract: A method is provided for forming a metal alloy. The method includes preparing a mixture of scandium oxide and a flux, thereby obtaining a flux-oxide mixture, wherein the flux contains less than 20% fluoride by weight, based on the total weight of the flux; mixing the flux-oxide mixture with molten aluminum, thereby obtaining a flux-metal mixture; cooling the flux-metal mixture; and separating at least a portion of the flux from the flux-metal mixture, thereby obtaining a metal alloy.

Abstract: A method is provided for forming a scandium-bearing aluminum alloy. The method includes preparing a mixture of scandium oxide and a first flux, thereby obtaining a flux-oxide mixture; mixing the flux-oxide mixture with a first portion of molten metal selected from the group consisting of aluminum and aluminum alloys, thereby obtaining a flux-metal mixture; obtaining a scandium-containing master alloy from the flux-metal mixture by performing the steps, in any order, of (a) cooling the flux-metal mixture, and (b) separating at least a portion of the flux from the flux-metal mixture; adding the scandium-bearing master alloy to a second portion of molten metal selected from the group consisting of aluminum and aluminum alloys, thereby obtaining a second metal mixture; and cooling the second metal mixture to obtain a scandium-bearing aluminum alloy; wherein the first flux contains less than 20% fluoride by weight, based on the total weight of flux added to the molten metal.

Abstract: A method (101) is provided for making a scandium-containing alloy. The method includes providing a molten metal (103), and mixing the molten metal with a scandium-containing precursor (113) which undergoes thermal decomposition at the temperature of the molten metal to produce scandium oxide, thereby producing a scandium-containing alloy.

Abstract: A method for isolating scandium values is provided. The method includes providing a scandium-bearing ore; subjecting the scandium-bearing ore to an acid leaching process, thereby obtaining a leachate, wherein the pH of the leachate is less than 1.

Abstract: A method is provided for extracting scandium values from a scandium bearing laterite ore. The method includes providing a portion of a scandium bearing laterite ore having an average particle size of no more than 200 mesh, leaching the ore to produce a leachate, and recovering scandium values from the leachate.