HOUSTON - Metallium Limited and its affiliate Flash Metals Texas Inc. in Houston have received a Phase II Small Business Innovation Research contract from the U.S. Defense Logistics Agency to continue development of technology to recover gallium and germanium from electronic waste streams for potential defense and semiconductor applications.
The Phase II SBIR award is valued at up to $1 million, according to company statements. The 12-month effort follows completion of a Phase I SBIR program in which the companies demonstrated recovery of gallium from semiconductor and electronic waste using proprietary flash joule heating technology. Company officials say the Phase II work will expand the process to recover both gallium and germanium at the company's Texas Technology Campus and support development toward larger-scale operational deployment.
The project reflects growing Pentagon and semiconductor industry interest in domestic sources of critical materials and semiconductor minerals used in advanced military electronics, radar systems, infrared sensors, satellite payloads, electronic warfare equipment, and secure communications systems.
Related: Raytheon to continue building gallium nitride (GaN) LTAMDS missile-defense radar in $1 billion order
A key material
Gallium is a key material used in gallium nitride (GaN) semiconductors, which have become increasingly important in military and aerospace electronics because of their ability to operate at high power levels, high frequencies, and elevated temperatures. GaN devices are widely used in active electronically scanned array radar, electronic warfare systems, satellite communications, missile seekers, and high-power RF amplifiers.
Gallium nitride semiconductors are increasingly replacing legacy silicon and gallium arsenide technologies in high-power military RF applications because of higher efficiency, higher power density, and improved thermal performance.
Germanium is used extensively in infrared optics, thermal imaging systems, fiber-optic communications, spacecraft solar cells, and specialized photonic and semiconductor applications.
Domestic sources needed
The Defense Logistics Agency and other DoD organizations have increased focus on securing domestic sources of critical materials following global supply-chain disruptions and export restrictions affecting gallium and germanium markets. China historically has dominated global processing capacity for both materials.
Metallium and Flash Metals Texas say their flash joule heating process can recover gallium and germanium with other high-value metals, including gold, silver, tin, palladium, and copper, from electronic waste streams. The approach is intended to provide an alternative source of critical materials from discarded electronics and semiconductor-related waste rather than relying solely on mined primary production.
Company officials say the Phase II contract could position Flash Metals Texas for future Phase III SBIR opportunities and broader commercial deployment associated with the developing Gator Point Technology Campus in Chambers County, Texas.
