The International Molybdenum Association (IMOA) has published its Annual Review for 2015/16, detailing the achievements of the Association on behalf of its members in the last twelve months.
Tim Outteridge, Secretary-General, said: “Our mission is to develop and maintain access to markets. The Review details the outputs from our ongoing programs in Health, Safety & Environment (HSE) and Market Development (MD) in pursuit of this objective, and highlights the many benefits accruing to members as a result.
“Our work in HSE actively promotes evidence-based regulation, engaging with authorities and commissioning research on the health and environmental effects of molybdenum. This year, we have used robust datasets to effectively challenge a number of proposals in U.S. and European legislative programs which we believe to be based upon poor quality science. Research has also been commissioned to allow our members to meet specific EU regulatory requirements and to enable the use of more scientifically robust U.S. methodologies for calculating safe concentrations of molybdenum in freshwater.
“The Molybdenum Consortium (MoCon) maintained its support to members, updating all 12 REACH technical dossiers and completing further compliance checks required by the European Chemicals Agency. The last tranche of MoCon REACH data was published in a peer-reviewed journal in November 2015.
“Our MD activities in the carbon steel sector focused on promoting the benefits of molybdenum-alloyed grades in knowledge-sharing events with steel producers, manufacturers and engineering companies. In the stainless steel sector, the benefits of molybdenum-bearing grades in architectural, building and construction applications were promoted to a wide range of engineers, specifiers and decision makers through conferences, seminars, workshops and project meetings. We also sponsor research to develop and demonstrate new or expanded uses for molybdenum, with several projects currently active.
“China remains an important area for market development, with molybdenum-containing steel grades expected to play a greater part in addressing China’s economic and environmental needs in the future. The China Stainless Steel Cooperation Promotion Group, co-founded by IMOA, introduced a dedicated session on stainless steel at China’s premier sustainable building conference in Beijing in March 2016.
“In December 2015, we launched an education section on the IMOA website. Designed principally for those studying or newly qualified in architecture or engineering, the pages host links to relevant resources covering stainless, duplex and alloy steels and their uses in architecture, building and construction,” he added.
Molybdenum is added to alloy steels to improve strength, toughness, hardenability and weldability for numerous applications in the automotive, shipbuilding, construction, mining, chemical, oil & gas and energy generation industries. In stainless steels and superalloys, it improves corrosion resistance and high-temperature performance and finds uses in many industrial applications. It is also used in a variety of products from catalysts and lubricants to pigments and paint.
IMOA has a strict antitrust compliance policy which delegates of all meetings are required to observe. All such meetings are observed by legal counsel.
