Metallurgical Research Institute

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MRI

Metallurgical Research Institute

The Metallurgical Research Institute (MRI) undertakes research and development in mining, metallurgical, materials, foundry and other forming technologies, and to develop and commercialize a portfolio of bankable projects in the specialized area of metallurgy.

The Goals of the Institute

Providing technical consultancy and training services to the mining and metallurgical industry.

  • Assaying and analytical services for base, minor, platinum group metals (PGMs) and precious metals, ferro-alloys, coals and metallurgically complex (refractory) ores and concentrates.
  • Pre-feasibility and due diligence studies in mineral and extractive metallurgy projects.
  • Metallurgical accounting, process audits, trouble-shooting and optimization of mineral processing circuits
  • Value addition processing and beneficiation of local mineral and energy resources
  • Development, production and supply of mining, mineral processing, automotive and agricultural equipment and spares.
  • Development and production of refractories.

MRI has expertise in the following areas:

Materials and Processes:

  • Refractories
  • Fine ceramics
  • Powder metallurgy
  • Composites

Physical Metallurgy:

  • Mechanical testing of materials
  • Non-destructive testing of engineering materials
  • Failure analysis of engineering components
  • Material selection for various industrial applications
  • Heat treatment procedures, surface treatments, etc
  • Laboratory quality control
  • Chemical and Metallographic analysis of metals

Foundry Technology:

  • Sand management in foundries, i.e. CO2 sand, resin and green sand.
  • Methoding, i.e. design of sprues, runners, ingates and risers.
  • In-depth reject analysis.
  • Assistance with melting and casting of alloys both ferrous and non-ferrous.
  • Spheroidal Graphite Iron (SGI) and Austempered Ductile Iron (ADI) manufacturing technology

Extractive Metallurgy:

  • Mineral extraction and refining (gold, chromium, platinum group metals, base metals etc.)
  • New product and process development
  • Mineral value addition processing, e.g. tantalite, chromite ores, base metal ores, rare earth metals, etc.
  • Laboratory scale metallurgical test works and process flow sheet development
  • Metallurgical accounting, process audits, trouble-shooting and optimization of mineral processing circuits
  • Process plant flow design and costing
  • Optimization of crushing and milling circuits

Pyro-Metallurgy:

  • Value addition processing of low grade oxide ores and coal resources
  • Laboratory scale tests and flow sheet development in direct reduced iron (DRI) making processes
  • Trouble shooting and process optimization in iron and steel making processes
  • Smelting reduction of iron and chromite ores
  • Process improvement and optimisation, e.g. optimisation of slag/alloy separation for high carbon ferrochrome production.

Mineral Processing

  • Test Work Design and Supervision
  • Project Design
  • Intellectual Property Development/Management
  • Operator Training
  • Technology Applications
  • Financial Modeling
  • Heap Leach Pad and Tailings Facility Design
  • Flowsheet Development and Design
  • Operating and Capital Cost Estimation
  • Plant Auditing, Optimization, and Trouble Shooting
  • Equipment Selection
  • Equipment Optimization: Rock crushers, Ball Mills circuits, carbon in leach/pulp circuits.
  • Ball mill components ( mill balls, liners, pinion & girth gears)
  • Jaw crusher lining
  • Stamp mill components ( shoes, cam, tappets, heads, dies)
  • Cast products in steel and iron.
  • Agricultural, construction and automotive products
  • Cast iron / Steel casting and fabrication
  • Mineral beneficiation.
  • Small scale mining as a business
  • Lithium exploration, mining and beneficiation
  • Physical metallurgy principles

For Further Information, Contact:

THE DIRECTOR: