Independent Test:Creates the Potential for High Value Sales in the Li-Ion Battery Sector
OTTAWA, ONTARIO--(Marketwired - May 27, 2014) - 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
| Focus Graphite | Reversible Capacity | Irreversible Capacity Loss | Surface 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.
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 Côte-Nord region of north-eastern Québec. The Lac Knife project
hosts a NI 43-101 compliant Measured and Indicated Mineral Resource
Estimate* of 9.6 million tons grading 14.77% graphitic carbon (Cg) as
crystalline graphite with an additional Inferred Mineral Resource
Estimate* 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.
* 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.
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.
Contact Information
-
Focus Graphite Inc.
Mr. Don Baxter, P.Eng
President and Chief Operating Officer
705-789-9706
dbaxter@focusgraphite.com
www.focusgraphite.com
