How Did We Miss This?

Pretty vague info....sounds expensive....if it was cost effective for common uses it would be widespread by now....but for oil rigs they can afford it....

From what I can discern, it is an electoplating technique for creating exotic materials consisting of multiple layers of different material. I think the title "Grow metals, fast and cheap!" is misleading. I can't imagine it's a cheap way of making any metal part, but maybe for making metals with unique properties.

Seems to me that is chiefly for corrosion resistance....Electroplating isn't cheap, but if you can coat another cheaper alloy with an anticorrosive coating that lasts, well then it might be cost effective....and they seem to be talking about large structures....

Well, it's good enough for drillers.

They grow diamonds now, don't they.

Give it time.

This is good, but I do not think this is cheap.

Lyn, I cannot imagine that Modumetal is revealing their entire process method as most copper and other precious metal mines have been using this type of process for quite some time now to extract copper and other metals from pregnant liquor solution. (Electro-Wining, Solvent Extraction, Leaching, etc.)

The problem is that only certain types of ore will release certain metals and only when proper chemical processing is used prior to the extraction process being applied. (Oxide based ores require oxidants such as sulfuric acid while sulfide based ores require high PH solutions to separate and concentrate the selected metal.)

In order to extract metals from ore using this method the ore must first be fractured and as many impurities removed as is possible then concentrated into a liquid form which adds significant cost to processing.

Time will tell if the process is viable for less exotic markets.

I wouldn't give away my trade secrets or intellectual properties either.

If the product is net shape when in comes out at the end, that's a plus.