Focus Graphite Inc. (TSX-V:FMS) (OTCQX:FCSMF) (FSE:FKC) is pleased
to report that ongoing independent testing of its new ultrafine
grades of flake graphite and expanded, natural flake graphite from
its Lac Knife, Québec Project demonstrate up to 10 times the
electrical conductivity over standard grades of synthetic and
natural graphite used in Li-Ion and Alkaline battery cathode
applications.
Focus Graphite is the sole owner of the Lac
Knife high purity graphite project located just south of Fermont,
in the Cote Nord District of Québec. The Company’s aim is to
produce value added coated spherical graphite and expanded graphite
products for anodes and cathodes used in a range of battery
applications.
Focus Graphite’s new superfine grades of flake
graphite and the ultrafine grades of expanded graphite were first
presented at the 34th International Battery Symposium (IBS)
in Fort Lauderdale, Florida, by Dr. Joseph Doninger, Focus’
Director of Technology and Manufacturing on March 21, 2017. (The
complete technical presentation entitled “Advances in the
Performance of Lac Knife Natural Flake and Expanded Graphite in
Electrochemical Power Sources” can be accessed by following the
link)
Dr. Doninger’s presentation also included the
introduction of the Company’s Superfine Coated Spherical Graphite
product to add to its standard and fine grades developed previously
and an update on long-term battery cycle testing.
The Company’s latest achievements are an
extension to Dr. Doninger’s developmental efforts first reported on
March 31, 2016 at the 33rd International Battery Seminar. That
initial publication of expanded graphite test results demonstrated
that the expanded Lac Knife flake graphite produced nearly doubled
the electrical conductivity of the cathode mix when compared with
the standard competing grades of synthetic and flake graphites.
Expanded graphite is a form of processed natural
crystalline flake, featuring dramatically improved electrical
conductivity in cathode mixes. Delaminated expanded flake is also
preferable to conventional air-milled flake and/or premium quality
synthetic graphites when higher conductivity properties are
desired.
Figure 1, below, compares the Scanning Electron
Photomicrographs (SEMs of purified Lac Knife flake graphite with
Focus’ new grade of Lac Knife expanded graphite.
Fig. 1 Comparison of the SEMs of Purified and Expanded
Lac Knife Graphite
The SEM of the cross section of the purified
flake graphite shows that the graphite is comprised of many layers
of finer sized flakes. Focus Graphite used a process to
intercalate the flake graphite with acids followed by applying heat
to expand the graphite like an “accordion” or “fourth of July worm”
which is described in detail in the March 2016 Battery Seminar
Presentation. The end result of which is shown in the SEM of
expanded graphite where the many layers of the original flake
graphite are now separated into extremely thin, almost translucent
flakes of graphite which are much more conductive than either
standard flake or synthetic graphites.
In electrochemical power sources, such as
batteries, the cathode provides the means for the electrons
generated in the anode that travel to the powered device to return
to the cathode of the cell and complete the circuit. Generally
either finely sized synthetic or purified flake graphites are added
to the cathode to improve the conductivity of the cathode
mixes.
In order to evaluate the effect of adding
conductive additives to cathode mixes, it is customary to determine
the effect that the conductive additive has on the resistivity of
the cathode mix which is described in detail in the March 2016
Battery Seminar Presentation and is shown in Figure 2.
Fig. 2 Comparison of the Resistivities of Lac Knife and
Commercial Graphites in Lithium Ion Cathode Mix ( LiNiMnCoO2
)
Figure 2 shows that replacing commercial grades
of synthetic and flake graphites with the Lac Knife expanded
graphite in the cathode of a Lithium Ion battery greatly reduces
the resistivity of the cathode mix in which Lithium Nickel
Manganese Cobalt Oxide (LiNiMnCoO2) is the active material thereby
greatly increasing the conductivity of the cathode mix.
As shown, if a target of 1 ohm-inches is set for
the resistivity of the cathode mix, the amount of expanded graphite
that needs to be added to the mix is only 1% as compared with 2.5
to 3.5% for the commercially used standard synthetic and flake
graphites. This is important because more of the active material
can now be added to the cathode mix thereby providing the
opportunity to either increase the capacity or extend the life of
the Lithium Ion battery. Conversely, at a concentration of 2 wt %
graphite, Focus Graphite’s new ultrafine grade of expanded graphite
increases the conductivity of the cathode mix by a factor of 7 to
10 times when compared with standard synthetic and flake
graphites.
The same principle can be applied to an alkaline
battery where the cathode active material is manganese dioxide and
generally not designed to be rechargeable as is shown in Figure 3
below:
Fig. 3 Effect of the Particle Size of Lac Knife
Purified Flake Graphite on the Resitivity of Alkaline Cathode Mix (
MnO2 )
Figure 3 compares the resistivity of the two new
ultrafine grades of Lac Knife purified flake graphite with the
original coarser grades. As shown in the cathode mixes with 3.5%
and 4% graphite added to the mix, the resistivity of the cathode
mixes made with the two new ultrafine grades are less than half
that obtained using the original coarser grades. This, of
course, means that the conductivities of the cathode mixes are also
more than doubled.
Figure 4 below shows that the ultrafine grades of the Lac Knife
purified flake graphite produce cathode mixes with lower
resistivities at the 6% graphite addition level and, hence have
higher conductivities than were obtained with current commercial
grades of flake and synthetic graphites.
Fig. 4 Comparison of the Resistivity of Lac Knife Flake
Graphite and Commercial Graphites in Alkaline Cathode Mix
(MnO2)
It also should be noted that the excellent
conductive properties of both the Lac Knife expanded graphite and
ultrafine grades of the flake graphite now provides the battery
manufacturer with both the opportunity and flexibility to optimize
the performance of the cathode and take full advantage of the
output of the anode of both alkaline and lithium ion batteries.
A U.S. based independent battery testing
conducted the scientific investigations and testing. The identity
of that facility has been withheld for commercially competitive
reasons.
The Company intends to continue its long-term
cycling testing to 1000 cycles, develop new grades spherical
graphite for use in high power applications; develop silicon
modified graphite for high capacity applications, and; continue its
development of Lac Knife expanded graphite for use in battery
cathodes.
Qualified Person
Dr. Joseph Doninger, Focus Graphite's Director
of Technology and Manufacturing is the Qualified Person under
National Instrument 43-101 - Standards of Disclosure for Mineral
Projects - has reviewed and approved the technical content of this
news release. Dr. Doninger is an internationally recognized
graphite processing expert and himself, the inventor of a number of
patents and an author of over 27 technical papers and presentations
related to graphite processing and the use of graphite in energy
storage systems. Dr. Doninger is a co-editor on the NATO Science
Series book titled "New Carbon Based Materials for Electrochemical
Energy Storage Systems". Dr. Doninger is also an Honorary Professor
at the Department of Chemistry from the Kiev National University of
Technologies and Design.
About Focus Graphite
Focus Graphite Inc. is an advanced exploration
and mining company with an objective of producing graphite
concentrate at its wholly owned Lac Knife flake graphite deposit
located 27 km south of Fermont, Québec. In a second stage, to meet
Quebec stakeholder interests of transformation within the province
and to add shareholder value, Focus is evaluating the feasibility
of producing value added graphite products including battery-grade
spherical graphite.
Focus Graphite is a technology-oriented graphite
mining development company with a vision for building long-term,
sustainable shareholder value. Focus also holds a significant
equity position in graphene applications developer Grafoid Inc.
For more information about Focus Graphite,
please visit www.focusgraphite.com.
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 Company 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 Company; (xii) the risks
associated with the various environmental regulations the Company
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; and
(xvii) the risk of potential dilution through the issue of common
shares.
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.
Neither the TSX Venture Exchange nor its Regulation Services
Provider (as that term is defined in the policies of the TSX
Venture Exchange) accepts responsibility for the accuracy of this
release.
Contact
Focus Graphite Inc.Mr. Gary EconomoPresident and Chief Executive
Officer+1
613-241-4040geconomo@focusgraphite.comwww.focusgraphite.com
Focus Graphite (TSXV:FMS)
Historical Stock Chart
From Mar 2024 to Apr 2024
Focus Graphite (TSXV:FMS)
Historical Stock Chart
From Apr 2023 to Apr 2024