IXR (ASX) General Chat / Discussion

Originally posted by SilverSand: ↑

That post should be a sticky.

The market doesn't understand what this chemical coy is, does or has really got. Hardly surprised as the West is quite backward looking when compared to say China. Always playing catch up. The West always coming from a defensive negative Luddite attitude, sells you the idea that China is collecting your data. While is does through Google etc 24/7.

Briefly, Ionic Technologies, a subsidiary of IonicRE, has developed a hydrometallurgical rare earth separation technology. Which is especially valuable for magnet rare earths (NdPr, Dy, Tb). These are the strategic elements in EVs, wind turbines, and defense tech which as we all know is currently dominated by China (up to 90% of global refining capacity).Ionic's patents offers low-cost, scalable, environmentally superior alternatives to solvent extraction, direct applicability to Western rare earth supply chains (e.g., Australia, Brazil, US). This positions us as a keystone enabler in supply chain localization — an area of immense geopolitical and industrial value. Now despite this obvious potential, markets undervalue patents because IP valuation is opaque — especially for pre-revenue tech platforms. Investors focus on mining assets or JV announcements (e.g., Viridion in Brazil), rather than the enabling tech. Thus lack of near-term monetization or licensing clarity.The upside triggers for revaluation of Ionic’s IP could be unlocked various ways, if IonicRE spins off or licenses the tech to majors (like Lynas, MP Materials, or non-Chinese processors) or does deals with strategic partnerships, especially defense or EU-backed initiatives. Government subsidies or critical mineral grants specifically target Ionic's tech platform. Patent validation through commercial deployment or pilot plants with high recovery rates.Strategically a granted patent in this space is more than legal protection — it’s a technological moat of high technical barriers to entry which is without doubt time-consuming to replicate without infringement. Also valuable in JV negotiations or as a negotiating chip with downstream manufacturers (EVs, batteries, etc.).Bottom Line here is Ionic Technologies holds the “Intel Inside” of Western rare earth refining. The market’s current focus on mining JVs or commodity pricing may miss as yet the deep tech value locked in the patent portfolio.

UK finance is coming to build out at Belfast and quite possibly a USA deal like either licensing, partnerships, or government validation, this would undeniably prompt a sharp re-rating of IonicRE or even Viridion by investors.

So exciting times ahead, dominos will fall, rare earths are not going away anytime soon or the next 50 years and as most here are coffin dodgers it won't matter.

Expand

So, Basically it is all come down to, IXRs Ionic Technologies' patented Multifunctional Amide Ionic Liquids (MAIL) technology, which represents a potentially transformative breakthrough in rare earth element processing, with significant market valuation implications for Ionic Rare Earths IXR. The four core intellectual property assets focus on processing and refining magnets and Mixed Rare Earth Carbonate (MREC) into separated high-purity rare earth oxides, positioning IXR at the forefront of a critical mineral in process and refining.

Right now, The technology demonstrates unprecedented separation and refining which now has been demonstrated with our partners in different projects over the past few years, Ionic Technologies has received significant validation through UK Government support, while validating the technology.

The next step is demonstrating our technology with Mixed Rare Earth Carbonates, as we look back at our quartiles you'll find R&D going on at our Makuutu Demonstration Plant.

September 2024

IMHO, IXR is leveraging the R&D and operational results from the Makuutu Demo Plant to optimize and validate its MAIL-based refining process. This proven process and know-how are being transferred to Brazil, where the Viridion JV will use the same technology to process high-quality MREC from VMM Colossus into high-purity REOs, supported by government and industry partnerships.

The successful commercial validation and scaling of IXR’s IPs ionic liquid technology (MAIL) process for separating and refining MREC would be a strong catalyst for a re-rate in IXR’s share price, If IXR demonstrates commercial-scale success from pilot, demonstration, and commercial plant ramp-up. Watching this part with interest!