Metallium Signs FJH Commercial Monetisation Deal with Environmental Clean Technologies

Metallium (ASX: MTM) subsidiary Flash Metals USA has signed a first commercial monetisation deal for its industrial-scale flash joule heating (FJH) platform with Environmental Clean Technologies (ASX: ECT).

The companies have signed a 12-month research, development, and engineering support services agreement that will see ECT evaluate FJH as a faster and more scalable alternative to conventional hydrofluoric acid (HF)-based processing for the production of MXenes at Metallium’s Gator Point Technology Campus in Texas.

Metallium will provide engineering support services, reactor access, and technical expertise throughout the program, while retaining ownership of existing and future intellectual property relating to its reactor systems, engineering improvements, process developments, and technology enhancements.

ECT will hold the exclusive licence to commercialise FJH for MXene production, and own all MXene product generated during the period of the research program.

Proprietary FJH Platform

The agreement demonstrates how the proprietary FJH platform can be commercialised through engineering services, technology access, licencing, and—where appropriate—royalty arrangements alongside Metallium’s core ‘Build, Own & Operate’ business strategy.

This strategy aims to generate revenue from the recovery and sale of critical and precious metals from electronic waste and other strategic feedstocks.

Under the terms of the agreement, Metallium will receive an upfront cash payment of US$500,000, along with a quarterly engineering support and facility service fee of US$225,000 and 20 million ECT options exercisable at $0.18 per share and expiring 12 months from issue.

Total cash consideration over the initial 12-month term is calculated to be as much as US$1.4 million, excluding the value of the ECT options.

Emerging MXene Technology

MXenes are an emerging family of advanced two-dimensional (2D) transition metal carbides and nitrides, most commonly based on titanium and produced from precursor feedstock materials known as ‘MAX phases’.

These are layered ceramic materials comprising alternating atomic layers of a transition metal (such as titanium), carbon, and a relatively weakly bonded “A” element (typically aluminium).

MXenes are prized for their conductivity, electromagnetic interference shielding, and energy storage applications across defence, electronics and batteries.

However, commercial production has to this point been constrained by slow, hazardous, hard-to-scale HF-based methods.

ECT lacks a working reactor platform so opted to leverage Metallium’s already-developed, scaled reactor systems and Gator Point Technology Campus to accelerate its development program, with FJH technology expected to deliver a step-change in manufacturing efficiency, scalability, and production economics.

Creating Added Value

Metallium managing director Michael Walshe said the agreement represented an important milestone in the company’s commercial evolution.

“While our primary focus remains on building a leading US critical metals processing business, we have always believed FJH is a platform technology capable of creating value well beyond metals extraction,” he said.

“This agreement represents the first commercial monetisation of that broader platform strategy and validates the significant investment we have made in developing our proprietary reactor technology and engineering capability at Gator Point.”

Mr Walshe believes the agreement’s equity component aligns Metallium's interests with ECT's long-term success while providing the potential for additional upside.