Independent Test: Focus Graphite Succeeds in Producing Extremely High-Performing Coated Spherical Graphite For Lithium Ion B...
May 27 2014 - 12:05PM
Marketwired Canada
Focus Graphite Inc. (TSX VENTURE:FMS)(OTCQX:FCSMF)(FRANKFURT:FKC) ("Focus" or
the "Company") is very pleased to announce the results from coin cell tests for
the lithium ion battery market recently performed on Lac Knife Spherical
Graphite ("SPG").
Focus Graphite is the sole owner of the world-class, high-grade Lac Knife
natural flake graphite project in Quebec. The Company's aim is to become one of
the lowest cost producers of high-purity technology graphite from a vertically
integrated business strategy.
Testing was conducted by a globally recognized, North American laboratory with
particular expertise in processes related to lithium ion battery technologies.
Its clients are some of the most advanced technology-related corporations in the
world. The laboratory has completed its testing and has measured the performance
properties of Lac Knife's materials on an environmentally sustainable basis.
Focus Graphite has withheld the name of the laboratory for reasons of commercial
and competitive confidentiality.
Highlights
-- Lac Knife SPG battery tests evaluate three proprietary formulations that
responded very well to CR2016 coin cell performance testing
-- Large, medium and fine micron size produced outstanding performance
metrics
-- Testing results on the premium medium and fine grades exceed the
performance of benchmark commercially available grades by significant
percentages.
-- Tests confirm Focus' capability to tailor lithium ion battery anode
grade graphite and value added products to meet the most stringent
customer specifications
----------------------------------------------------------------------------
Reversible Irreversible Surface
Focus Graphite Capacity Capacity Loss Area
Coin Cell Test Samples (Ah/kg) (%) (m2/g)
----------------------------------------------------------------------------
Coarse Carbon Coated SPG Grade
(D90=42um) 362.1 6.80% 0.64%
----------------------------------------------------------------------------
Medium Carbon Coated SPG Grade
(D50=24um) 363.7 1.44% 0.48%
----------------------------------------------------------------------------
Fine Carbon Coated SPG Grade
(D50=17um) 365.1 1.01% 1.14%
----------------------------------------------------------------------------
A benchmark commercial grade of SPG provided a reversible capacity (RC) in the
range of 345 to 355 Ah/kg and an irreversible capacity loss (ICL) of 6.5 %, a
significantly higher loss compared to the 1.44% and 1.01% ICL for Lac Knife's
medium and fine grade samples shown above.
In Lockstep With Industry
"Recent comments by leading North American auto makers signalled two significant
market realities," said Focus CEO and Director Gary Economo.
"The first is the need to lower the costs of battery materials to encourage
broader consumer interest in moving to electric vehicles. The second is that the
potential North American battery market may well enjoy a much larger than
anticipated growth in demand," Mr. Economo said.
"Again, these results add another layer of material value that holds the
potential to de-risk even further our global enterprise goals," he said.
A detailed summary of the SPG tests is provided below.
SPG grades developed by Focus Graphite may help to solve one of the more
difficult challenges holding back market growth for Li Ion batteries,
"Increasing cycling capacity." One of the problems in using carbon based
materials in Li Ion batteries is that it results in the formation of a Solid
Electrolyte Interface ("SEI") layer which produces an irreversible capacity loss
which generally ranges between 5 and 10% for benchmark SPG grades currently
available in the market place.
Irreversible capacity loss means that a portion of the valuable lithium and
graphite is wasted. Thus the efficiency is reduced and the cost increased. Lac
Knife anode graphite is unique in having such a low loss.
Two premium (medium and fine) grade SPG's developed by Focus have achieved First
Cycle Irreversible Capacity Losses of 1.44% and 1.01%, respectively, truly
remarkable results. These lower ICL values of the SPG grades produced by Focus
can lead to the production of higher capacity and longer life Li Ion batteries.
Furthermore, the low surface areas of the premium coated grades of SPG at 0.48
and 1.14% m2/g can help to improve the safety of Li Ion batteries. The use of
higher surface area carbons in these batteries can cause the temperature of the
battery to increase and possibly result in the occurrence of thermal runaways.
Figure 1: The following Galvanostatic charge-discharge curve for the fine SPG
grade illustrates the very promising nature of the Lac Knife concentrate. To
view Figure 1, please visit the following link:
http://media3.marketwire.com/docs/fms-figure1.pdf.
This material has demonstrated a reversible capacity of 365.08 Ah/kg and an
irreversible capacity loss of an ultra low 1.01%. The performance metric is
calculated between the two curves in the chart above is the difference between
368.8 and 365.08 on a percentage basis. Approximately an 80% improvement over
commercial benchmark grades was achieved.
The unique properties of the Lac Knife high carbon content concentrate that
grades 98% C even in the finer grade products down to 200 mesh (75 microns) that
are usually the most difficult products to sell. This holds the potential to
allow Focus market access to significantly higher margin value added products
with a finer grade lower cost product creating a unique opportunity.
Additionally, Focus plans to offer the higher value large flake to other growing
markets.
The -100 mesh size (150 microns), 98% C and +65 mesh size (230 microns) flake
products spheronize very well establishing a unique Lac Knife concentrate
quality.
Potentially these excellent Irreversible Capacity Loss ("ICL") results from the
Lac Knife high quality flake uncoated concentrate are due to low reactivity at
the flake edges compared to other graphite concentrates underlying its inherent
value as a feed to the secondary battery market in a green technology
revolution.
Also included in the study is a scanning electron photomicrograph of the 99.98 %
purified high purity large flake graphite (See Figure 2 below) produced on both
a laboratory and pilot plant scale from 98% C Lac Knife +65 mesh flake
concentrate. This photomicrograph indicates that the Lac Knife concentrates are
uniquely suited to produce high purity lithium ion battery grade graphite. What
is important to note is that Lac Knife graphite concentrate consists of very
pure graphite flakes with impurities located on the surface of the flakes.
Figure 2: Photomicrograph of Thermally Purified Flake Graphite showing
exceptionally clean surfaces and grading 99.98% C. To view Figure 2, please
visit the following link: http://media3.marketwire.com/docs/fms-figure2.pdf.
Such surface impurities can be removed by using less expensive technologies. In
the most competitive concentrates on the market, the impurities are intercalated
or sandwiched within the layers and are more difficult to remove requiring
higher cost processing methods during purification.
Figure 3: Photomicrograph of Thermally Purified Spherical Graphite grading 99.9%
C. To view Figure 3, please visit the following link:
http://media3.marketwire.com/docs/fms-figure3.pdf.
The quality of the Lac Knife concentrate is continuing to create the potential
for increased margins through to value added products and confirms the Company's
plan to evaluate the potential of secondary transformation for as much of the
Lac Knife production as is possible. The potential for increased margins from
the secondary transformation of graphite concentrate is not included in the
current Preliminary Economic Assessment for the project.
Current prices for coated, spherical graphite are at the $8,000 per tonne point.
This compares to $20,000 per tonne for battery grade synthetic graphite, the
only alternative for the anode in the battery.
"Commercially and competitively, these results open the door for Focus to
confidently accelerate our plans to market and sell our battery grade, high
margin products to potential partners and customers," said Focus President and
COO Don Baxter.
"The data presented validates Lac Knife's potential to become a North American
source of low-cost high purity flake graphite concentrate that could, possibly,
lead to the production of batteries with better performance," Mr. Baxter stated.
"Further, these results enable us to continue with our vision of producing value
added products. In particular, Focus' Director of Manufacturing and Technology
Dr. Joseph Doninger and our Consultant, Mr. George Hawley have the capability to
lead Focus through the development of various lithium ion battery products with
the aim of building higher margin applications and downstream products" Mr.
Baxter said.
Dr. Doninger said: "The Lac Knife premium medium and fine grades of coated SPG
at 1.44% and 1.01% first cycle irreversible capacity losses and 0.48 and 1.14
m2/g surface areas are better than any similar sized SPGs that I've ever seen."
Battery manufacturers require a cost competitive alternative to current sources
of natural SPG. China produces about 90% of the world's purified natural SPG,
utilizing methods that are generally regarded as environmentally unsustainable.
Qualified Persons
Don Baxter, P. Eng., Focus President & Chief Operating Officer, is a Qualified
Person as defined by NI 43-101 guidelines, has reviewed and approved the
technical content of this news release.
About Focus Graphite
Focus Graphite Inc. is an emerging mid-tier junior mining development company, a
technology solutions supplier and a business innovator. Focus is the owner of
the Lac Knife graphite deposit located in the Cote-Nord region of north-eastern
Quebec. The Lac Knife project hosts a NI 43-101 compliant Measured and Indicated
Mineral Resource Estimate(i) of 9.6 million tons grading 14.77% graphitic carbon
(Cg) as crystalline graphite with an additional Inferred Mineral Resource
Estimate(i) of 3.1 million tons grading 13.25% Cg of crystalline graphite.
Focus' goal is to assume an industry leadership position by becoming a low-cost
producer of technology-grade graphite. On November 7, 2013 the Company released
the results of an updated Preliminary Economic Assessment ("PEA") of the Lac
Knife Project that indicated that the project has very good potential to become
a graphite producer. As a technology-oriented enterprise with a view to building
long-term, sustainable shareholder value, Focus also invests in the development
of graphene applications and patents through Grafoid Inc.
(i) Mineral resources are not mineral reserves and do not have demonstrated
economic viability
Forward Looking Statement
This News Release contains "forward-looking information" within the meaning of
Canadian securities legislation. All information contained herein that is not
clearly historical in nature may constitute forward-looking information.
Generally, such forward-looking information can be identified by the use of
forward-looking terminology such as "plans", "expects" or "does not expect", "is
expected", "budget", "scheduled", "estimates", "forecasts", "intends",
"anticipates" or "does not anticipate", or "believes", or variations of such
words and phrases or state that certain actions, events or results "may",
"could", "would", "might" or "will be taken", "occur" or "be achieved".
Forward-looking information is subject to known and unknown risks, uncertainties
and other factors that may cause the actual results, level of activity,
performance or achievements of the Company to be materially different from those
expressed or implied by such forward-looking information, including but not
limited to: (i) volatile stock price; (ii) the general global markets and
economic conditions; (iii) the possibility of write-downs and impairments; (iv)
the risk associated with exploration, development and operations of mineral
deposits; (v) the risk associated with establishing title to mineral properties
and assets; (vi)the risks associated with entering into joint ventures; (vii)
fluctuations in commodity prices; (viii) the risks associated with uninsurable
risks arising during the course of exploration, development and production; (ix)
competition faced by the resulting issuer in securing experienced personnel and
financing; (x) access to adequate infrastructure to support mining, processing,
development and exploration activities; (xi) the risks associated with changes
in the mining regulatory regime governing the resulting issuer; (xii) the risks
associated with the various environmental regulations the resulting issuer is
subject to; (xiii) risks related to regulatory and permitting delays; (xiv)
risks related to potential conflicts of interest; (xv) the reliance on key
personnel; (xvi) liquidity risks; (xvii) the risk of potential dilution through
the issue of common shares; (xviii) the Company does not anticipate declaring
dividends in the near term; (xix) the risk of litigation; and (xx) risk
management. Forward-looking information is based on assumptions management
believes to be reasonable at the time such statements are made, including but
not limited to, continued exploration activities, no material adverse change in
metal prices, exploration and development plans proceeding in accordance with
plans and such plans achieving their stated expected outcomes, receipt of
required regulatory approvals, and such other assumptions and factors as set out
herein.
Although the Company has attempted to identify important factors that could
cause actual results to differ materially from those contained in the
forward-looking information, there may be other factors that cause results not
to be as anticipated, estimated or intended. There can be no assurance that such
forward-looking information will prove to be accurate, as actual results and
future events could differ materially from those anticipated in such
forward-looking information. Such forward-looking information has been provided
for the purpose of assisting investors in understanding the Company's business,
operations and exploration plans and may not be appropriate for other purposes.
Accordingly, readers should not place undue reliance on forward-looking
information. Forward-looking information is made as of the date of this News
Release, and the Company does not undertake to update such forward-looking
information except in accordance with applicable securities laws.
FOR FURTHER INFORMATION PLEASE CONTACT:
Focus Graphite Inc.
Mr. Don Baxter, P.Eng
President and Chief Operating Officer
705-789-9706
dbaxter@focusgraphite.com
www.focusgraphite.com
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