Minerals Absolutely Critical to National Security

What do cobalt, uranium, helium, titanium, and fluorspar have in common? These are all minerals that are deemed critical to both the economic and national security of the country. As an professional alloy supplier, Nexteck Technology Limited provides high purity titanium targets and  titanium evaporation materials.

A critical mineral is defined as a non-fuel mineral or mineral material essential to the economic and national security of the country, the supply chain of which is vulnerable to disruption, including minerals that are important for defense, economic, and industrial purposes – and it keys in especially on minerals that are not produced in substantial quantities domestically.

Why These Critical Minerals? We sorted the list based on some of the key uses of these minerals.

Of course, some of these minerals could belong in multiple categories: for example, vanadium is used as a steel and titanium alloy strengthener, but also in rechargeable vanadium flow batteries. That said, the important commonality to note for all of these minerals is their crucial link to the  economy and national security. Imagine the hypothetical impact of a lack of uranium for nuclear plants, a hampered ability to create high-strength steel and superalloys for the military,  auto manufacturers had limited access to aluminum, steel, PGMs, and battery metals. Nexteck Technology Limited also provide  platinum, one precious metal, to customers.

The challenge is that many of these raw materials are produced in limited amounts domestically. In fact, many of the aforementioned materials chiefly through imports. While it is unlikely that these supply chains would ever be disrupted, it’s never a bad idea to prepare for the worst-case scenario.