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A D V A N C E D M A T E R I A L S & P R O C E S S E S | F E B R U A R Y / M A R C H 2 0 1 8 9 the feed sources, and the concentrates were comprised of more than 80% to- tal REEs on a dry whole mass basis and more than 98% rare earth oxides. Further, critical elements such as neodymiumand yttrium that are widely used in defense and high-tech applica- tions represented more than 45% of the total concentrate. Finally, scandium— especially important for aerospace and lighting—was efficiently separated from the other REEs and concentrated as a separate product. The process will be part of a one-fourth-tph (tons per hour) mobile rare earth recovery pilot scale plant being tested by the research team as part of the DOE project. uky.edu . HOT NEW WELDING METHOD TAKES OFF Supported by a grant from the Sao Paulo Research Foundation, a Brazil- ian scientist developed an innovative high-temperature laser welding meth- od for advanced high-strength steels that could allow them to be used in aerospace and automotive applica- tions. Previous welding methods have rendered joints in AHS steel too brit- tle to withstand many manufacturing processes. The new technique consists of heating sheets of 22MnB5 steel—the most promising AHS grade for hot stamping and forming—to approx- imately 450°C just 10 minutes before laser welding to equalize the tempera- tures. Sheets are maintained at a high temperature for another 10 minutes af- ter welding to produce a bainitic struc- ture. Microconstituent bainite is the best candidate to produce tough and reliable weld joints due to its high yield and tensile strengths, say researchers. www.fapesp.br/en. A newmethod of laser welding at high temperatures enhances the properties of AHS steel for automotive and aerospace applications. Courtesy of Welding Journal. MAKING CARBON FIBER FROM BIOMASS The Department of Energy (DOE) recently awarded Southern Research, Durham, N.C., up to $5.9 million to ad- vance production of high-performance, low-cost carbon fiber from biomass. The award will fund development of a multistep catalytic process for con- verting sugars from non-food biomass to acrylonitrile, a key precursor in car- bon fiber production. The initial DOE award in 2014 was divided into two stages. Phase I called for completion of lab-scale studies to demonstrate the process and verify economic viability. Phase II consists of constructing and operating a pilot plant to scale up the process to produce kilogram levels of acrylonitrile while demonstrating pro- cess reliability and product validation. Phase I work was completed in 2017 and pilot plant construction is now un- derway. southernresearch.org .