Hafnium, the All-Rounder
What do aircraft turbines, cutting-edge radiation therapy methods, and the advancement of nuclear fusion have in common? They utilize the critical element hafnium. While the rapidly recovering post-COVID air traffic is likely one of the main price drivers for the technology metal, it is precisely the research results and developments emerging “under the radar” that are shaping the world of tomorrow—and thus often represent promising investment opportunities.
More than $2.5 billion for nanotechnology in cancer therapy
The Paris-based biotechnology company Nanobiotix has developed a radioenhancer made from hafnium oxide. NBTXR3, as the company calls the product, enhances the effectiveness of radiation therapies in cancer patients. The pharmaceutical company Johnson&Johnson therefore intends to invest more than $2.5 billion in the licensing, development, and distribution of NBTXR3. This gives Nanobiotix CEO Laurent Levy hope that the commercialization of the radioenhancer will improve the lives of cancer patients around the world.
Nearly free electricity soon thanks to new alloy?
The interior of the sun is several million degrees hot because atomic nuclei continuously fuse together there, releasing energy in the process. Scientists have been attempting for years to replicate this process on Earth using fusion reactors to generate cost-effective green electricity. While previous reactor alloys based on tungsten could withstand high temperatures, the material still decomposed and deformed due to other forces generated during fusion. An international research team has now developed a more stable alloy with hafnium. This alloy is more radiation-resistant than previous versions and has already proven successful in initial experiments.
Still good inventory levels of hafnium
What you have, you have, as the saying goes. This is particularly true for the increasingly sought-after hafnium. It is subject to export controls, similar to those China is now planning for gallium and germanium. Until now, the technology metal has been reliably delivered, even though waiting times have sometimes been several weeks. Given the geopolitical situation, now could be a good time to purchase the critical metal to be prepared for any possible development. Demand for hafnium is growing either way, creating optimal opportunities for attractive returns that are also tax-free.