Mining and minerals processing

Quality standards dictated by extreme conditions

Outokumpu has been a reliable supplier of stainless steel for the mining and minerals processing industry for decades. Our products are commonly used for different types of process tanks and vessels utilized in the extraction of metals from mined ores and the subsequent hydrometallurgical refining processes.

Outokumpu meets all the essential standards and certifications as well as customers’ own complex in-house specifications. After extensive tests and research under extreme conditions, we have earned the approval of several leading mining and mineral processing companies worldwide.

Excellent resilience in highly corrosive and erosive conditions

Transporting matter between different process steps and recovering metals in the ore by dissolving them in acid often involves extremely harsh conditions. This calls for materials with high corrosion and erosion resistance, like stainless steel. Additionally, stainless steel has full recyclability unlike many of its competing materials, some of which in fact end up becoming problem waste by the end of their lifecycle.

Outokumpu’s stainless steels have also several advantages from the design and process flexibility point of view. High-strength duplex grades are particularly useful for pressure vessels and large process tanks. Under the most severe conditions, super duplex or super-austenitic stainless steels offer superior resistance and mechanical properties. For less severe environments such as alkaline lithium refining processes, lower alloyed steels offer a viable option.

Answering the call of the growing battery metal processing industry

The global and rapidly booming electric vehicle market has increased the demand for specialty metals such as lithium and cobalt. In addition, batteries consume a considerable amount of nickel, copper, aluminum, and manganese. As a result, the demand for sustainable recycling technologies for used lithium-ion batteries has also grown.

Hydrometallurgy is highly beneficial to these processes, too. Due to its relatively low cost, sulfuric acid is the most important acid for the purpose and is often produced on-site. Thanks to its ability to withstand acidic environments, stainless steel is usually the material of choice for construction. This puts us at the forefront of supplying the expanding battery metal industry with extremely well-suited materials.

Sustainability as a major driving force

Outokumpu’s stainless steel sets an industry standard for sustainability. With a focus on the economic and environmental aspects of the full lifecycle of the material, we help our customers reduce their value chain emissions – the most challenging emissions to reduce. Stainless steel’s inherent sustainability qualities include unmatched longevity and durability, low maintenance requirements, and closed-loop recyclability – meaning that it is 100 % recyclable.

When it comes to environmental impact, as a supplier of stainless steel and other alloys, Outokumpu is ahead of the curve with the lowest carbon footprint in the industry. Our carbon footprint is 75 percent lower than the global industry average, and over 95 % of our stainless steel is made from recycled metal. Additionally, we have certified data in place so that our customers can calculate the carbon footprint of their own projects.

Learn more about Outokumpu's sustainability efforts and research.