American Elements
announced the further expansion of its bismuth metal facilities to meet growing
demand for the metal in non-lead bullets and ammunition.
The new production capacity will affect deliveries beginning in October 2008.
Recent changes in state and local laws requiring that lead-free projectiles
be used for hunting game in certain restricted areas has increased demand for
various forms of the metal, including shot, granules and needles. American Elements
now offers all three in 99%, 99.9%, and 99.99% purities. For example, last December
the California Department of Fish and Game modified its authorized methods for
hunting certain big game including deer, bear and elk in its condor range to
lead-free projectiles only.
The increased capacity will also expand American Elements' production of all
its bismuth-related products including bismuth-containing alloys, bismuth oxide,
other bismuth compounds, such as bismuth chloride, bismuth carbide and bismuth
nitrate, nanomaterials, such bismuth oxide nanopowder and bismuth nanoparticles,
and thin film coating materials for evaporation and deposition such as bismuth
sputtering targets, bismuth rod, pellets and foil.