Grafite e grafene i materiali del futuro ?
- Creatore Discussione PIZZODIGINO
- Data di Inizio
PIZZODIGINO
Pacifico
Il settore in cui maggiormente ci sarà una grande richiesta in futuro è quello delle batterie agli ioni di litio sulle auto elettriche.
Poi un grande uso attuale è nelle acciaierie.
Poi se il grafene avrà successo, ci sarà anche li una grande richiesta.
In bocca al lupo anche a te.
PIZZODIGINO
Pacifico
Zenyatta Ventures; Lakehead University Experts Release Document Confirming Comparable Properties of Albany Graphite Crystals to Existing Synthetic Graphite
Thunder Bay, ON
22 December 2015
Zenyatta Ventures Ltd. (“Zenyatta” or “Company”) (TSXV: ZEN) is pleased to report on a recent academic paper confirming properties of naturally occurring Albany graphite to be comparable to synthetic graphite. The paper was presented at the “Symposium on Critical and Strategic Materials” hosted by the British Columbia Geological Survey and is titled “Geology, Ore Characteristics, and Origin of the Albany Graphite Deposit” by Dr. Andrew G. Conly and Lindsay C. Moore of Lakehead University in Thunder Bay, Ontario, Canada. The unusual mode of formation accounts for the favourable crystallinity and particle size of the graphite material found in the Albany deposit.
The authors conclude that “the Albany deposit is a distinctive type of igneous-hosted, fluid-derived graphite mineralization. Igneous-hosted deposits are very rare, as these environments do not usually provide suitable conditions for the formation of sizable deposits. The defining characteristic of the Albany deposit is the occurrence of crystalline, fine-grained graphite within two large (breccia) pipes. The formation of the Albany deposit required an unusual combination of geological factors approximately 1 Billion years ago.”
Dr. Andrew Conly stated, “The rapid precipitation of graphite in the Albany deposit at temperatures up to 581°C generated fine-grained, but highly crystalline graphite, with comparable crystallographic properties to synthetic graphite. We demonstrated this using XRD and Raman analyses which were performed at Lakehead University and Laurentian University, respectively.”
A Government of Canada grant from the Natural Sciences and Engineering Research Council (‘NSERC’) assisted Dr. Andrew Conly (associate professor, Department of Geology at Lakehead University) in this collaborative research on the Albany graphite deposit. This recent academic research is of a geological nature and further enhances the understanding of the genesis and mineralising event of this deposit.
Dr. Andrew Conly further observed, “Evidence has shown that Zenyatta has discovered a sub-class of a hydrothermal graphite deposit unlike any other. Igneous breccia-hosted graphite deposits like Albany are rare, and to the best of my knowledge, none are currently being mined or even in an advanced stage of exploration globally. The deposit is interpreted as a vent pipe breccia that formed from CO2 and CH4 rich fluids that evolved due to pressure-related degassing of the host alkalic complex.”
The initial research was announced on 4 February 2014 in a news release titled, “Experts Establish First Geological Model at Lakehead University for One-of-a-Kind Albany Graphite Deposit; Government of Canada Grant Awarded to Carry Out Additional Research.” The latest paper along with news releases, reports and diagrams can be found at Zenyatta - Zenyatta Ventures Welcomes you to our New Site. A more detailed explanation can be found in the NI 43-101 Technical Report dated 16 January 2014 under the section ‘Deposit Type’ filed on Welcome to the SEDAR Web Site / Bienvenue au Site Web SEDAR.
Peter Wood, VP Exploration for Zenyatta, commented, “Dr. Conly has been involved in the study of the Albany graphite deposit since Zenyatta’s initial discovery drill hole in 2011. He was one of the first to recognize the geological significance and the economic importance of such a find. Academic work completed under Dr. Conly’s supervision has considerably increased our understanding of the geological processes required for formation, and confirms that the Albany graphite deposit is not like any other graphite occurrence previously discovered or documented. It represents a unique geological setting that has led to the formation of highly crystalline graphite.”
Synthetic graphite is used in many cleantech applications such as the manufacturing of anodes for lithium-ion batteries, major components of fuel cells and the fabrication of graphite powder into complex industrial parts. It is a high value market that is growing rapidly.
Synthetic graphite producers are faced with high energy costs associated with turning petroleum (needle) coke into high purity graphite powder. To turn coke into synthetic graphite requires significant exposure at high temperatures (up to 2800°C or higher) in a furnace to evaporate contaminants and change the crystalline structure of the coke to graphite while releasing hazardous impurities. These (smoke stack) emissions are subject to strict environmental regulations; however, it is not possible to capture 100% of the discharge. Not only is this a costly process but it has a significant environmental issue.
The world trend is to develop products for technological applications that need extraordinary performance using high purity graphite powder at an affordable cost. Graphite from Zenyatta’s Albany deposit can be upgraded to >99.9% graphitic carbon (‘Cg’) with very good crystallinity without the use of high thermal treatment¹ as shown in the preliminary economic assessment (‘PEA’). If the technical feasibility and economic viability of the project can be established, the development of this deposit would place Zenyatta in a strong position to compete in high growth specialised markets such as those currently supplied by synthetic graphite.
A high degree of crystallinity, particle size and purity results in various positive qualities that graphite is known for such as electrical conductivity, thermal conductivity, compressibility, dimension stability, bending strength and lubricity. These qualities are very important for emerging high-tech or clean-tech applications. Zenyatta is in proactive development with major high purity graphite consumers to incorporate its Albany graphite into these advanced applications, as recently announced in a news release on 7 December 2015 reporting on use of Albany graphite in hydrogen fuel cells.
Peter Wood, P.Eng., P.Geo., VP Exploration is the Qualified Person under National Instrument 43-101 who supervised, reviewed and prepared the scientific and technical information that forms the basis for the disclosure contained in this news release. Dr. Conly’s paper was also peer reviewed by two external reviewers and the British Columbia Geological Survey publication geologist and volume editor.
Thunder Bay, ON
22 December 2015
Zenyatta Ventures Ltd. (“Zenyatta” or “Company”) (TSXV: ZEN) is pleased to report on a recent academic paper confirming properties of naturally occurring Albany graphite to be comparable to synthetic graphite. The paper was presented at the “Symposium on Critical and Strategic Materials” hosted by the British Columbia Geological Survey and is titled “Geology, Ore Characteristics, and Origin of the Albany Graphite Deposit” by Dr. Andrew G. Conly and Lindsay C. Moore of Lakehead University in Thunder Bay, Ontario, Canada. The unusual mode of formation accounts for the favourable crystallinity and particle size of the graphite material found in the Albany deposit.
The authors conclude that “the Albany deposit is a distinctive type of igneous-hosted, fluid-derived graphite mineralization. Igneous-hosted deposits are very rare, as these environments do not usually provide suitable conditions for the formation of sizable deposits. The defining characteristic of the Albany deposit is the occurrence of crystalline, fine-grained graphite within two large (breccia) pipes. The formation of the Albany deposit required an unusual combination of geological factors approximately 1 Billion years ago.”
Dr. Andrew Conly stated, “The rapid precipitation of graphite in the Albany deposit at temperatures up to 581°C generated fine-grained, but highly crystalline graphite, with comparable crystallographic properties to synthetic graphite. We demonstrated this using XRD and Raman analyses which were performed at Lakehead University and Laurentian University, respectively.”
A Government of Canada grant from the Natural Sciences and Engineering Research Council (‘NSERC’) assisted Dr. Andrew Conly (associate professor, Department of Geology at Lakehead University) in this collaborative research on the Albany graphite deposit. This recent academic research is of a geological nature and further enhances the understanding of the genesis and mineralising event of this deposit.
Dr. Andrew Conly further observed, “Evidence has shown that Zenyatta has discovered a sub-class of a hydrothermal graphite deposit unlike any other. Igneous breccia-hosted graphite deposits like Albany are rare, and to the best of my knowledge, none are currently being mined or even in an advanced stage of exploration globally. The deposit is interpreted as a vent pipe breccia that formed from CO2 and CH4 rich fluids that evolved due to pressure-related degassing of the host alkalic complex.”
The initial research was announced on 4 February 2014 in a news release titled, “Experts Establish First Geological Model at Lakehead University for One-of-a-Kind Albany Graphite Deposit; Government of Canada Grant Awarded to Carry Out Additional Research.” The latest paper along with news releases, reports and diagrams can be found at Zenyatta - Zenyatta Ventures Welcomes you to our New Site. A more detailed explanation can be found in the NI 43-101 Technical Report dated 16 January 2014 under the section ‘Deposit Type’ filed on Welcome to the SEDAR Web Site / Bienvenue au Site Web SEDAR.
Peter Wood, VP Exploration for Zenyatta, commented, “Dr. Conly has been involved in the study of the Albany graphite deposit since Zenyatta’s initial discovery drill hole in 2011. He was one of the first to recognize the geological significance and the economic importance of such a find. Academic work completed under Dr. Conly’s supervision has considerably increased our understanding of the geological processes required for formation, and confirms that the Albany graphite deposit is not like any other graphite occurrence previously discovered or documented. It represents a unique geological setting that has led to the formation of highly crystalline graphite.”
Synthetic graphite is used in many cleantech applications such as the manufacturing of anodes for lithium-ion batteries, major components of fuel cells and the fabrication of graphite powder into complex industrial parts. It is a high value market that is growing rapidly.
Synthetic graphite producers are faced with high energy costs associated with turning petroleum (needle) coke into high purity graphite powder. To turn coke into synthetic graphite requires significant exposure at high temperatures (up to 2800°C or higher) in a furnace to evaporate contaminants and change the crystalline structure of the coke to graphite while releasing hazardous impurities. These (smoke stack) emissions are subject to strict environmental regulations; however, it is not possible to capture 100% of the discharge. Not only is this a costly process but it has a significant environmental issue.
The world trend is to develop products for technological applications that need extraordinary performance using high purity graphite powder at an affordable cost. Graphite from Zenyatta’s Albany deposit can be upgraded to >99.9% graphitic carbon (‘Cg’) with very good crystallinity without the use of high thermal treatment¹ as shown in the preliminary economic assessment (‘PEA’). If the technical feasibility and economic viability of the project can be established, the development of this deposit would place Zenyatta in a strong position to compete in high growth specialised markets such as those currently supplied by synthetic graphite.
A high degree of crystallinity, particle size and purity results in various positive qualities that graphite is known for such as electrical conductivity, thermal conductivity, compressibility, dimension stability, bending strength and lubricity. These qualities are very important for emerging high-tech or clean-tech applications. Zenyatta is in proactive development with major high purity graphite consumers to incorporate its Albany graphite into these advanced applications, as recently announced in a news release on 7 December 2015 reporting on use of Albany graphite in hydrogen fuel cells.
Peter Wood, P.Eng., P.Geo., VP Exploration is the Qualified Person under National Instrument 43-101 who supervised, reviewed and prepared the scientific and technical information that forms the basis for the disclosure contained in this news release. Dr. Conly’s paper was also peer reviewed by two external reviewers and the British Columbia Geological Survey publication geologist and volume editor.
PIZZODIGINO
Pacifico
[FONT=Calibri,Bold]
LOMIKO TO REPORT 43-101 FLAKE GRAPHITE RESOURCE AT LA LOUTRE,
GRAPHENE 3D LAB SIGNS DEAL WITH FORTUNE 500 COMPANY
January 12, 2015 TSX-V: LMR
Vancouver, B.C. Lomiko Metals Inc. (“Lomiko”)
[/FONT](TSX-V:LMR, OTC:LMRMF, FSE
H8B)
H8B)has made significant strides forward on several fronts in 2015. Working with partner
Canada Strategic Metals, it has completed a drilling program and working toward an
80% interest in the La Loutre property, has completed trademark and look forward to
commercial production of Spider Charger USB devices and Power Converters.
[FONT=Calibri,Bold] 2016 Goals
[/FONT] Management is confident the work done on both technology and exploration puts
Lomiko in an excellent position to capitalize on developments in the electric vehicle
space. Recent reports on Lithium and Graphite by
Benchmark Mineral Intelligence
indicate a steady rise in both minerals while general commodities are heading toward
bear market status. Here are our goals:
•
Lomiko Metals will announce a 43-101 resource estimate based on excellent
drill results at the La Loutre Graphite Property located near the Imerys
Graphite and Carbon Mine in Quebec
link
•
Lomiko Technologies would like to create a revenue stream from its licensing
deals and e-commerce site and launch
Lomiko Technologies as a new public
company. A detailed review of this development is available here
link
•
Graphene 3D Lab is also making significant progress in developing their business
plan for revenue and profitability. In December 2015, Graphene 3D Lab
announced it has signed a R&D and royalty agreement with a Fortune 500
company
link and acquired Graphene Labs, the owner of www.graphenesupermarket.
com
link
•
Lomiko owns 40% of Graphene ESD Corp. and will continue its development of
energy storage devices. The company remains private and is working on patents
in this space.
In the most difficult market in history for junior exploration companies, Lomiko has
managed to stand out as an innovative, agile and forward-looking company. Our
technology investments provide a counter balance to the junior resource market.
For more information on Lomiko Metals, review the website at
www.lomiko.com,
contact A. Paul Gill at 604-729-5312 or email: [email protected]
On Behalf of the Board
[FONT=Calibri,Italic] “A. Paul Gill”
[/FONT] Chief Executive
PIZZODIGINO
Pacifico
Zenyatta Ventures; Research at Lakehead University Shows Significant Progress in the Production of Graphene from Albany Graphite
Thunder Bay, ON
27 January 2016
Zenyatta Ventures Ltd. (“Zenyatta” or “Company”) (TSXV: ZEN) is pleased to announce significant progress related to the laboratory scale production of graphene from high-purity Albany graphite concentrate by a team of scientists at Lakehead University in Thunder Bay, Ontario, Canada.
Graphene was discovered in 2004 at the University of Manchester, UK. Graphene is a single sheet of pure graphite that is one atom thick, flexible, transparent, stronger than diamonds or steel and is highly conductive. Experts believe that graphene will enable many innovative cleantech applications, including low-cost solar cells, super computers and rapid charge batteries. So far, one obstacle to its widespread use is the high manufacturing cost for high-quality graphene. A lower-cost approach is to use high-purity natural graphite, like Albany graphite, as the starting point.
In 2015, Dr. Aicheng Chen, Professor of Chemistry and Canada Research Chair in Materials and Environmental Chemistry at Lakehead University (‘Lakehead’), was awarded a Natural Science and Engineering Research Council of Canada (‘NSERC’) Collaborative Research and Development (‘CRD’) grant. The goals of the NSERC CRD project are: (i) to characterize the physical and chemical properties of Zenyatta’s Albany graphite; (ii) to understand its electrochemical behaviors; (iii) to modify the Albany graphite for practical applications; and, (iv) to develop advanced carbon nanomaterials like graphene from the Albany graphite. Since the award of the grant, Dr. Chen and his research group have made significant advances in the characterization of Zenyatta’s Albany graphite and the development of new materials from it for practical applications.
Dr. Chen and his team have tested various graphene exfoliation techniques on samples of Albany graphite. The research team at Lakehead has been intensively exploring new routes for the generation of high-quality graphene for comparative purposes and to facilitate mass production. Initial results indicate that high quality graphene oxides can be produced from Albany graphite at a laboratory scale. CLICK HERE of the image of scanning electron microscopic image of the graphene oxide produced from Zenyatta graphite. The graphene oxide produced can be converted to graphene via a simple reduction process. Preliminary graphene yields of approximately 98% from Zenyatta’s Albany graphite are very encouraging from these tests.
Dr. Chen commented, “From an analytical perspective, the Albany graphite meets all the stringent requirements for a high-quality product, encompassing high-purity, crystallinity, thermal stability, and high surface area. Interestingly, the crystallinity found in Zenyatta’s Albany graphite was greater than that of commercially available graphite samples which were also tested for comparative purposes. These initial studies indicate that there are great potential opportunities for the utilization of this product in multiple practical applications. For example, these graphite derivatives will be explored for their medical, energy and environmental technology applications.”
In addition to its incorporation into advanced batteries, graphite and its derivatives (like graphene) have been employed for the development of various sensors and electronic devices. Recent investigations of graphene derived from graphite have demonstrated significantly improved electrochemical performance in these systems due to its unique electronic properties, enhanced surface area, novel mechanical and thermal properties, and chemical stabilities, when compared to the parent graphite. These qualities are very important for emerging high-tech or cleantech applications.
Dr. Bharat Chahar, VP of Market Development for Zenyatta, stated, “The Company is excited with these results and is very pleased to learn that Dr. Chen and his research team have confirmed earlier test results from other academic institutions, like Ben-Gurion University in Israel, and continue to show that Zenyatta’s Albany graphite is an ideal source material for graphene production (see News Release dated 24 September 2015). The Company is convinced of the importance of this new and superior material (graphene) and is confident that the amount invested globally on R&D by large corporations and academics will result in eventual commercialization at a large scale. It is important for Zenyatta to play an active role in R&D related to graphene research, by providing Albany graphite test samples to research facilities. While we are optimistic about the potential of graphene in large scale commercial usage, we also believe that graphene requires much technological development before realizing this potential. Additionally, the graphene sector will require advancement in the area of mass production and we are uncertain of the total global demand for this nano-material at this time.”
Various analytical techniques were used by Dr. Chen and his team to determine the physical and chemical properties of the Albany graphite, including X-ray diffraction, energy dispersive X-ray spectrometry, surface area analysis, thermogravimetric analysis, and Raman spectroscopy. The electrochemical properties of the Albany graphite were also tested, and results indicate that the electrode potential range and double layer capacitance of this material were comparable to those of graphite samples from leading commercial graphite venders.
Zenyatta continues to develop its unique Albany graphite deposit in Ontario, Canada. The Company’s highly crystalline graphite deposit is situated 30 km north of the Trans-Canada Highway, power line and natural gas pipeline near the communities of Constance Lake First Nation and Hearst. A rail line is located 70 km away with an all-weather road approximately 10 km from the graphite deposit. The world trend is to develop products for technological applications that need extraordinary performance using ultra-high purity graphite powder at an affordable cost. High-purity and highly crystalline graphite material is gaining prominence in the cleantech sector at a time when Zenyatta discovered an igneous-related, fluid-derived graphite deposit. Albany graphite can be upgraded with very good crystallinity without the use of aggressive acids (hydrofluoric) or high temperature thermal treatment therefore having an environmental advantage over other types of upgraded high-purity graphite material.
Thunder Bay, ON
27 January 2016
Zenyatta Ventures Ltd. (“Zenyatta” or “Company”) (TSXV: ZEN) is pleased to announce significant progress related to the laboratory scale production of graphene from high-purity Albany graphite concentrate by a team of scientists at Lakehead University in Thunder Bay, Ontario, Canada.
Graphene was discovered in 2004 at the University of Manchester, UK. Graphene is a single sheet of pure graphite that is one atom thick, flexible, transparent, stronger than diamonds or steel and is highly conductive. Experts believe that graphene will enable many innovative cleantech applications, including low-cost solar cells, super computers and rapid charge batteries. So far, one obstacle to its widespread use is the high manufacturing cost for high-quality graphene. A lower-cost approach is to use high-purity natural graphite, like Albany graphite, as the starting point.
In 2015, Dr. Aicheng Chen, Professor of Chemistry and Canada Research Chair in Materials and Environmental Chemistry at Lakehead University (‘Lakehead’), was awarded a Natural Science and Engineering Research Council of Canada (‘NSERC’) Collaborative Research and Development (‘CRD’) grant. The goals of the NSERC CRD project are: (i) to characterize the physical and chemical properties of Zenyatta’s Albany graphite; (ii) to understand its electrochemical behaviors; (iii) to modify the Albany graphite for practical applications; and, (iv) to develop advanced carbon nanomaterials like graphene from the Albany graphite. Since the award of the grant, Dr. Chen and his research group have made significant advances in the characterization of Zenyatta’s Albany graphite and the development of new materials from it for practical applications.
Dr. Chen and his team have tested various graphene exfoliation techniques on samples of Albany graphite. The research team at Lakehead has been intensively exploring new routes for the generation of high-quality graphene for comparative purposes and to facilitate mass production. Initial results indicate that high quality graphene oxides can be produced from Albany graphite at a laboratory scale. CLICK HERE of the image of scanning electron microscopic image of the graphene oxide produced from Zenyatta graphite. The graphene oxide produced can be converted to graphene via a simple reduction process. Preliminary graphene yields of approximately 98% from Zenyatta’s Albany graphite are very encouraging from these tests.
Dr. Chen commented, “From an analytical perspective, the Albany graphite meets all the stringent requirements for a high-quality product, encompassing high-purity, crystallinity, thermal stability, and high surface area. Interestingly, the crystallinity found in Zenyatta’s Albany graphite was greater than that of commercially available graphite samples which were also tested for comparative purposes. These initial studies indicate that there are great potential opportunities for the utilization of this product in multiple practical applications. For example, these graphite derivatives will be explored for their medical, energy and environmental technology applications.”
In addition to its incorporation into advanced batteries, graphite and its derivatives (like graphene) have been employed for the development of various sensors and electronic devices. Recent investigations of graphene derived from graphite have demonstrated significantly improved electrochemical performance in these systems due to its unique electronic properties, enhanced surface area, novel mechanical and thermal properties, and chemical stabilities, when compared to the parent graphite. These qualities are very important for emerging high-tech or cleantech applications.
Dr. Bharat Chahar, VP of Market Development for Zenyatta, stated, “The Company is excited with these results and is very pleased to learn that Dr. Chen and his research team have confirmed earlier test results from other academic institutions, like Ben-Gurion University in Israel, and continue to show that Zenyatta’s Albany graphite is an ideal source material for graphene production (see News Release dated 24 September 2015). The Company is convinced of the importance of this new and superior material (graphene) and is confident that the amount invested globally on R&D by large corporations and academics will result in eventual commercialization at a large scale. It is important for Zenyatta to play an active role in R&D related to graphene research, by providing Albany graphite test samples to research facilities. While we are optimistic about the potential of graphene in large scale commercial usage, we also believe that graphene requires much technological development before realizing this potential. Additionally, the graphene sector will require advancement in the area of mass production and we are uncertain of the total global demand for this nano-material at this time.”
Various analytical techniques were used by Dr. Chen and his team to determine the physical and chemical properties of the Albany graphite, including X-ray diffraction, energy dispersive X-ray spectrometry, surface area analysis, thermogravimetric analysis, and Raman spectroscopy. The electrochemical properties of the Albany graphite were also tested, and results indicate that the electrode potential range and double layer capacitance of this material were comparable to those of graphite samples from leading commercial graphite venders.
Zenyatta continues to develop its unique Albany graphite deposit in Ontario, Canada. The Company’s highly crystalline graphite deposit is situated 30 km north of the Trans-Canada Highway, power line and natural gas pipeline near the communities of Constance Lake First Nation and Hearst. A rail line is located 70 km away with an all-weather road approximately 10 km from the graphite deposit. The world trend is to develop products for technological applications that need extraordinary performance using ultra-high purity graphite powder at an affordable cost. High-purity and highly crystalline graphite material is gaining prominence in the cleantech sector at a time when Zenyatta discovered an igneous-related, fluid-derived graphite deposit. Albany graphite can be upgraded with very good crystallinity without the use of aggressive acids (hydrofluoric) or high temperature thermal treatment therefore having an environmental advantage over other types of upgraded high-purity graphite material.
PIZZODIGINO
Pacifico
NORTHERN GRAPHITE ADVANCES PURIFICATION TECHNOLOGY
(OTTAWA, Ontario - February 8, 2016) NORTHERN GRAPHITE CORPORATION (TSX-V:NGC) (the “Company” or “Northern”) announces that a major international engineering company has completed a fatal flaw analysis and scoping study with respect to the Company’s proprietary purification process. It was concluded that Northern’s process does not present any major technical challenges, can be carried out using relatively standard processing equipment and will not generate any harmful waste products. Capital costs are estimated at approximately US$10.5 million (including a 35% contingency) for a facility to purify 5,000 tonnes per year of either flake graphite concentrate or spherical graphite (“SPG”), the anode material used in lithium ion batteries (“LiBs”). Operating costs to purify SPG to 99.95%C were estimated at approximately US$0.50/kg. Capital and operating costs are based on conservative reagent volumes and retention times and could be reduced with further testing and optimization which will be done through the construction of a pilot plant.
Gregory Bowes, CEO commented: “The purification of mine concentrates is critical to accessing a number of value added markets. This is the first viable, cost competitive alternative to the Chinese acid based process which is difficult to use in the west because of environmental/regulatory issues.” He added: “the large and XL flake nature of our deposit provides us with the luxury of focusing almost entirely on high value, high growth markets such as SPG, high purity flake graphite and expandable graphite (used in thermal management for consumer electronics, fuel cells, advanced building materials, etc.).”
A number of technologies that are related to Northern’s process have been investigated and patented in the past. The Company is not aware of any currently being used to purify meaningful quantities of natural graphite, likely because they cannot achieve required purity levels, reagent consumption is too high or because of technical challenges associated with the reagents and scaling to commercial volumes. The Company believes its process can economically purify commercial quantities of its natural graphite concentrate to 99.95%C in an environmentally sustainable manner. Initial discussions with the Company’s consulting engineers and legal counsel indicate that the process and associated equipment should be patentable.
A competitor of the Company, whose CEO is a former executive of Northern, recently released a Preliminary Economic Assessment (“PEA”) which is based on a “proprietary low-temperature purification process” claimed as its own. Northern believes there is sufficient information in the PEA to conclude that this process is essentially a copy of the one developed by Northern at considerable time and expense. Northern considers its process to be proprietary intellectual property which is protected as a trade secret and confidential information at common law and through confidentiality agreements which remain in force. Any attempt to use the technology will be met with the appropriate legal response. Reagent consumption and reaction times are very low when the process is used on Northern’s concentrates and this may not be the case for others.
About Spherical Graphite
SPG is flake graphite concentrate that has been micronized, rounded, purified and coated for use in LiBs. It is Northern’s opinion that the complexities of making SPG are generally not well understood and costs are usually significantly underestimated. Coated SPG sells for $8-12,000/t and reported high margins based on production cost estimates of less than US$3,000/t are unrealistic.
PIZZODIGINO
Pacifico
PIZZODIGINO
Pacifico
Graphite: What iPhones, NASCAR and Tesla Have in Common
Source: Special to The Gold Report (2/29/16)
https://www.streetwisereports.com/pub/na/graphite-what-iphones-nascar-and-tesla-have-in-common#https://www.streetwisereports.com/pub/na/graphite-what-iphones-nascar-and-tesla-have-in-common#https://www.streetwisereports.com/pub/na/graphite-what-iphones-nascar-and-tesla-have-in-common#https://www.streetwisereports.com/pub/na/graphite-what-iphones-nascar-and-tesla-have-in-common#https://www.streetwisereports.com/pub/na/graphite-what-iphones-nascar-and-tesla-have-in-common#https://www.streetwisereports.com/pub/na/graphite-what-iphones-nascar-and-tesla-have-in-common#
Focus Graphite CEO and Director Gary Economo says the tipping point is coming for natural flake mining developers—even during a depressed commodities cycle. This optimistic view is based on the urgent necessity of manufacturers today to source those critical materials and technologies needed to meet globally mandated CleanTech targets in advance of a 2020 deadline. Focus, says Economo, is on strategic trajectory to capitalize on global change with his company's high-purity graphite deposit, Lac Knife in Quebec.
54 kg of graphite is used in an 85kw Tesla S vehicle battery
Management Q&A: View From the Top
The Gold Report: Focus Graphite Inc. (FMS:TSX.V; FCSMF:OTCQX; FKC:FSE)was an early entrant into the graphite mining development space in 2010. It currently sits near the development stage and has ambitions to move into the highly profitable technology graphite space. What leads you to believe Focus can break out of the commodity doldrums?
Gary Economo: Focus has positioned itself perfectly as a future niche supplier of technology graphite. A high purity deposit affords us the advantages of being able to project very competitive operating costs with the potential to further mitigate our manufacturing costs for value-added, highly refined technology graphite.
From a management perspective, however, Focus remains the keystone to a global technology business platform with graphene applications developer Grafoid Inc., technology-focused Stria Lithium Inc. (SRA:TSX.V) and Braille Battery Inc.
This relationship platform is unique in the world and unique to the junior mining sector. It has enabled us to extend our marketing efforts into those sectors with the greatest potential for growth from demand during the next decade, including China.
TGR: Can you provide a specific example of where you see demand causing you to be optimistic about a graphite market turnaround?
GE: I can answer that in two parts. First, some recent historical context. At the Paris climate conference in December 2015, 195 countries adopted the first-ever universal, legally binding global climate deal. The agreement sets out a global action plan to put the world on track to avoid dangerous climate change by limiting global warming to well below 2°C. The agreement is due to enter into force in 2020.
Goldman Sachs Global Market Research's "The Low Carbon Economy" report says low carbon regulation is coming. Period. Graphite and lithium are the two key critical raw materials destined to feed next generation renewable energy manufacturers' demands for the foreseeable future. But time is short – 50 months—and those transformative technologies required for mass production need to be sourced today. For example, Goldman Sachs predicts sales of grid-connected vehicles—pure electric and plug-in hybrids—will grow from $12 billion in 2015 to $88 billion by 2020 and to $244 billion by 2025.
The two key industrial markets we've positioned ourselves to supply into are the automotive and the lithium-ion battery manufacturing sectors. And we see the added impetus from a global emissions mandate as cause for some economic optimism not only for Focus, but also for our industry as a whole. Supplies of technology lithium cannot currently meet demand.
The automotive sector is engaged in perpetual R&D. It constantly seeks to lower input costs from material solutions that lead to lighter, stronger, more fuel-efficient products. Carbon polymers present an opportunity for the transportation industry to meet both mandated emission reductions and customer needs for more efficient, environmentally sustainable vehicles.
Focus sees itself as a stable, reliable supply source of high-purity carbon graphite to the transportation sector. Toward that end in 2015, Focus entered into two long-term supply contracts with Grafoid Inc. for potentially up to nearly 50% of Lac Knife's future production.
The first supply contract is specific to carbon polymers while the second clean energy-related supply contract is specific to the needs of developers of next generation lithium-ion batteries.
TGR: Your platform partner Grafoid Inc. has a long-standing graphene battery application development partnership with Hydro-Quebec. If this is the type of technology market you're looking to capture, how does it benefit the platform as a whole?
GE: One of the key markets we're pursuing with some vigor is the battery-manufacturing sector because there is a natural fit. We are all members of Chicago-based trade organization NAATBatt International, the National Alliance for Advanced Transportation Batteries, and Grafoid is represented in part by our wholly owned subsidiary company Braille Battery Inc. of Sarasota, Florida.
I should mention that Braille Battery is a principal supplier of lightweight, high-energy lithium-ion starting batteries for NASCAR, Formula I and Indy Racing and virtually all international motorized sports.
Braille's NASCAR carbon li-ion batteries are 70% lighter than conventional AGM batteries.
So I believe you can see how and why this relationship between and among the Focus platform partners is significant. It is unique in the world and it forms a powerful, technology supply chain. As a business innovator, this alliance meets one of our long-held corporate goals of leadership in our niche commodity sector.
TGR: That's a very interesting, if not visionary business structure. Does the market see it that way?
GE: Our corporate vision, from the outset—primarily because of the high-purity of our Lac Knife graphite resource—was to avoid the aphorism of becoming hewers of wood and drawers of water. We saw the value-added potential under our feet and made our decision to look to those future technology markets with the greatest potential for long-term, sustainable growth.
The graphite market itself, for decades, has operated below the radar of the big board market players. Time changes everything. Environmental sustainability and clean technologies have become the hashtag of corporate social responsibility. The market focus has shifted to those material suppliers capable of producing and operating in lockstep with the needs of the automotive and energy sectors, to name but two.
On that basis, my sense is that we've reached the tipping point—the point where markets see the value of investing in an organization poised to benefit from its support of those major industrial players in adapting to the global environmental reality.
TGR: You're focused on two key growth markets for graphite. Are there other technology applications with the potential to invite market interest?
GE: Indeed. Graphite, and expanded graphite, in particular, plays a key role in everyone's daily life. Without graphite, we could not exist in today's connected world. It is something we all take for granted, and that is the heat shield in your smartphone, your tablet and your portable computer. Without those lightweight layers of graphite to spill off heat generated by our phones' operating system, we would be at risk of serious burns to our hands, face and ears.
Apple sold 231 million iPhones with li-polymer batteries in 2015.
Even more intense, however, is the heat generated by institutional computing and switching and control systems. As demand grows for faster, better-performing industrial systems to meet consumer demand, so too the need for advanced thermal management solutions.
Grafoid, as evidenced by its many joint venture application development relationships with some of the world's largest industrial players, is a pioneer and a leader in the graphene revolution.
Grafoid Global Technology Centre. Photo courtesy of Grafoid Inc.
There are perhaps more than 100 applications for graphite but we saw greater commercial advantages by positioning and focusing our business operations on supplying into next generational material markets.
TGR: So what are your next moves? In the midst of a commodities sector meltdown, investors are loath to invest until there are some signs of a global demand recovery. You have a portion of the $165 million financing requirement to construct the Lac Knife mine and processing plant; can you secure interest at this time to bring your production on-line?
GE: After five years of mining development work, we've nearly reached that stage required for the issuance of our environmental and construction permitting. Once permitted we'll be in a better position to finalize our financing. Of note, however, is that our graphite mining project is considered a priority project for development by the Government of Quebec. Quebec announced the revival in 2015 of its massive Plan Nord social, environmental and commercial development program for Northern Quebec. Our high-technology export-oriented vision fits nicely into the provincial government's future plans for mining.
We have been in discussions with potential backers to complete our financing needs for some time now and continue to maintain interest. Given the lead time to production, an investment today could bring us into production at about the same time as an anticipated recovery in global markets and demand needs of major players in the green economy.
TGR: What would you say to an investor in these timid markets?
GE: Well, I would have two messages, one to current shareholders and one to investors who are thinking of investing in the graphite space.
To shareholders I would say, thank you for having put your faith in us, the tipping point is coming. It has taken longer than we all thought but the fundamental reasons you invested in Focus to begin with are still the same.
To potential investors I'd say, the time is right to invest. Valuations in the sector are low, and Focus is moving forward with its plans and has put together a derisked corporate development strategy and hedged itself by investing in tomorrow's green economy—it's the largest shareholder in Grafoid Inc., with a $US39 million equity position.
Source: Special to The Gold Report (2/29/16)
https://www.streetwisereports.com/pub/na/graphite-what-iphones-nascar-and-tesla-have-in-common#https://www.streetwisereports.com/pub/na/graphite-what-iphones-nascar-and-tesla-have-in-common#https://www.streetwisereports.com/pub/na/graphite-what-iphones-nascar-and-tesla-have-in-common#https://www.streetwisereports.com/pub/na/graphite-what-iphones-nascar-and-tesla-have-in-common#https://www.streetwisereports.com/pub/na/graphite-what-iphones-nascar-and-tesla-have-in-common#https://www.streetwisereports.com/pub/na/graphite-what-iphones-nascar-and-tesla-have-in-common#
Focus Graphite CEO and Director Gary Economo says the tipping point is coming for natural flake mining developers—even during a depressed commodities cycle. This optimistic view is based on the urgent necessity of manufacturers today to source those critical materials and technologies needed to meet globally mandated CleanTech targets in advance of a 2020 deadline. Focus, says Economo, is on strategic trajectory to capitalize on global change with his company's high-purity graphite deposit, Lac Knife in Quebec.
Management Q&A: View From the Top
The Gold Report: Focus Graphite Inc. (FMS:TSX.V; FCSMF:OTCQX; FKC:FSE)was an early entrant into the graphite mining development space in 2010. It currently sits near the development stage and has ambitions to move into the highly profitable technology graphite space. What leads you to believe Focus can break out of the commodity doldrums?
Gary Economo: Focus has positioned itself perfectly as a future niche supplier of technology graphite. A high purity deposit affords us the advantages of being able to project very competitive operating costs with the potential to further mitigate our manufacturing costs for value-added, highly refined technology graphite.
From a management perspective, however, Focus remains the keystone to a global technology business platform with graphene applications developer Grafoid Inc., technology-focused Stria Lithium Inc. (SRA:TSX.V) and Braille Battery Inc.
This relationship platform is unique in the world and unique to the junior mining sector. It has enabled us to extend our marketing efforts into those sectors with the greatest potential for growth from demand during the next decade, including China.
"Focus Graphite has positioned itself perfectly as a future niche supplier of technology graphite."
We anticipate continued growth in demand for electronic devices, novel polymer composites used by the automotive and construction material supply industries, and continued growth and expansion of the electric vehicle market. More, the emergence of graphene-based materials makes a compelling case for the restoration of investor confidence in the North American graphite development sector. TGR: Can you provide a specific example of where you see demand causing you to be optimistic about a graphite market turnaround?
GE: I can answer that in two parts. First, some recent historical context. At the Paris climate conference in December 2015, 195 countries adopted the first-ever universal, legally binding global climate deal. The agreement sets out a global action plan to put the world on track to avoid dangerous climate change by limiting global warming to well below 2°C. The agreement is due to enter into force in 2020.
Goldman Sachs Global Market Research's "The Low Carbon Economy" report says low carbon regulation is coming. Period. Graphite and lithium are the two key critical raw materials destined to feed next generation renewable energy manufacturers' demands for the foreseeable future. But time is short – 50 months—and those transformative technologies required for mass production need to be sourced today. For example, Goldman Sachs predicts sales of grid-connected vehicles—pure electric and plug-in hybrids—will grow from $12 billion in 2015 to $88 billion by 2020 and to $244 billion by 2025.
The two key industrial markets we've positioned ourselves to supply into are the automotive and the lithium-ion battery manufacturing sectors. And we see the added impetus from a global emissions mandate as cause for some economic optimism not only for Focus, but also for our industry as a whole. Supplies of technology lithium cannot currently meet demand.
The automotive sector is engaged in perpetual R&D. It constantly seeks to lower input costs from material solutions that lead to lighter, stronger, more fuel-efficient products. Carbon polymers present an opportunity for the transportation industry to meet both mandated emission reductions and customer needs for more efficient, environmentally sustainable vehicles.
Focus sees itself as a stable, reliable supply source of high-purity carbon graphite to the transportation sector. Toward that end in 2015, Focus entered into two long-term supply contracts with Grafoid Inc. for potentially up to nearly 50% of Lac Knife's future production.
The first supply contract is specific to carbon polymers while the second clean energy-related supply contract is specific to the needs of developers of next generation lithium-ion batteries.
TGR: Your platform partner Grafoid Inc. has a long-standing graphene battery application development partnership with Hydro-Quebec. If this is the type of technology market you're looking to capture, how does it benefit the platform as a whole?
GE: One of the key markets we're pursuing with some vigor is the battery-manufacturing sector because there is a natural fit. We are all members of Chicago-based trade organization NAATBatt International, the National Alliance for Advanced Transportation Batteries, and Grafoid is represented in part by our wholly owned subsidiary company Braille Battery Inc. of Sarasota, Florida.
I should mention that Braille Battery is a principal supplier of lightweight, high-energy lithium-ion starting batteries for NASCAR, Formula I and Indy Racing and virtually all international motorized sports.
Braille's NASCAR carbon li-ion batteries are 70% lighter than conventional AGM batteries.
"Without graphite, we could not exist in today's connected world."
Lithium and graphite are two of the key components in lithium-ion battery chemistries. In the case of our development partnership with Hydro-Quebec, one of the world's leading developers of battery chemistries, the graphene used is derived from Focus' Lac Knife graphite deposit. So I believe you can see how and why this relationship between and among the Focus platform partners is significant. It is unique in the world and it forms a powerful, technology supply chain. As a business innovator, this alliance meets one of our long-held corporate goals of leadership in our niche commodity sector.
TGR: That's a very interesting, if not visionary business structure. Does the market see it that way?
GE: Our corporate vision, from the outset—primarily because of the high-purity of our Lac Knife graphite resource—was to avoid the aphorism of becoming hewers of wood and drawers of water. We saw the value-added potential under our feet and made our decision to look to those future technology markets with the greatest potential for long-term, sustainable growth.
The graphite market itself, for decades, has operated below the radar of the big board market players. Time changes everything. Environmental sustainability and clean technologies have become the hashtag of corporate social responsibility. The market focus has shifted to those material suppliers capable of producing and operating in lockstep with the needs of the automotive and energy sectors, to name but two.
On that basis, my sense is that we've reached the tipping point—the point where markets see the value of investing in an organization poised to benefit from its support of those major industrial players in adapting to the global environmental reality.
TGR: You're focused on two key growth markets for graphite. Are there other technology applications with the potential to invite market interest?
GE: Indeed. Graphite, and expanded graphite, in particular, plays a key role in everyone's daily life. Without graphite, we could not exist in today's connected world. It is something we all take for granted, and that is the heat shield in your smartphone, your tablet and your portable computer. Without those lightweight layers of graphite to spill off heat generated by our phones' operating system, we would be at risk of serious burns to our hands, face and ears.
Even more intense, however, is the heat generated by institutional computing and switching and control systems. As demand grows for faster, better-performing industrial systems to meet consumer demand, so too the need for advanced thermal management solutions.
"Environmental sustainability and clean technologies have become the hashtag of corporate social responsibility."
Perhaps one of the most important and exciting technology markets for Focus is the rapidly developing graphene sector. We are now starting to see graphene applications emerge on a small scale in consumer products. Given our close relationship with Grafoid, we see growth—and demand for graphite—through broader, industrial-scale commercial graphene applications.Grafoid, as evidenced by its many joint venture application development relationships with some of the world's largest industrial players, is a pioneer and a leader in the graphene revolution.
Grafoid Global Technology Centre. Photo courtesy of Grafoid Inc.
There are perhaps more than 100 applications for graphite but we saw greater commercial advantages by positioning and focusing our business operations on supplying into next generational material markets.
TGR: So what are your next moves? In the midst of a commodities sector meltdown, investors are loath to invest until there are some signs of a global demand recovery. You have a portion of the $165 million financing requirement to construct the Lac Knife mine and processing plant; can you secure interest at this time to bring your production on-line?
GE: After five years of mining development work, we've nearly reached that stage required for the issuance of our environmental and construction permitting. Once permitted we'll be in a better position to finalize our financing. Of note, however, is that our graphite mining project is considered a priority project for development by the Government of Quebec. Quebec announced the revival in 2015 of its massive Plan Nord social, environmental and commercial development program for Northern Quebec. Our high-technology export-oriented vision fits nicely into the provincial government's future plans for mining.
We have been in discussions with potential backers to complete our financing needs for some time now and continue to maintain interest. Given the lead time to production, an investment today could bring us into production at about the same time as an anticipated recovery in global markets and demand needs of major players in the green economy.
TGR: What would you say to an investor in these timid markets?
GE: Well, I would have two messages, one to current shareholders and one to investors who are thinking of investing in the graphite space.
To shareholders I would say, thank you for having put your faith in us, the tipping point is coming. It has taken longer than we all thought but the fundamental reasons you invested in Focus to begin with are still the same.
To potential investors I'd say, the time is right to invest. Valuations in the sector are low, and Focus is moving forward with its plans and has put together a derisked corporate development strategy and hedged itself by investing in tomorrow's green economy—it's the largest shareholder in Grafoid Inc., with a $US39 million equity position.
PIZZODIGINO
Pacifico
Flinders Produces High Purity Spherical Graphite With Chinese Partner
Vancouver, Canada – Flinders Resources Limited (“Flinders” or the “Company”) (TSXV: FDR), provides an update on its two key initiatives to produce high purity spherical graphite and graphene to position its 100% owned Woxna graphite mine as a leading supplier to the current and future graphite and graphene industries.
Mr Blair Way, President and CEO states, “The past 12 months has been a challenging time in the resource sector and the graphite market has not been immune. Low graphite demand for the last 6 months has lead to deflated prices. Nevertheless, with a tight control on our costs and a focus on value adding strategies, our initiatives provide cost effective means to grow our business and provide shareholders with a realistic vision for the future. With a production-ready, fully permitted graphite mine and processing facility, Flinders continues to maintain its position as the only graphite producer in the junior space that is positioned to react quickly to the anticipated increases in demand.”
The first initiative underway is the High Purity Graphite Project (see Flinders’ News Release August 18, 2015), which seeks to value add to its product stream via working with a strategic Chinese technology partner with a well-established design, build and operate capability in high purity graphite production. The second, the Swedish Graphene Project (“Svenskt Grafen”) (see Flinders’ News Release September 21, 2015), a Swedish-government funded program to research and commercialize the production of graphene from Swedish-sourced Woxna graphite.
Product from the Woxna graphite plant in Sweden was shipped to the Company’s Chinese technology supplier for detailed bench-scale test work to refine our existing high-purity flowsheet (see Flinders’ News Release June 25, 2015). The Company is pleased to advise that our Chinese engineering team has defined a process to upgrade Woxna graphite through standard acid alkali chemical purification techniques to battery grade graphite. Work is now underway to produce a larger quantity of high purity spherical graphite to commercial specifications, for end users to internally test for suitability in their battery manufacturing processes. Meetings with these consumers will take place during Q2 2016. A number of auto manufactures in the European Union (“EU”) are pursuing the development of electric vehicles more aggressively and we believe the Woxna production facility is well positioned to be an integral part of the EU supply chain for battery manufacturing.
The second initiative is the Swedish Graphene Project, which falls under the EU Graphene Flagship Project, a ten-year, €1 billion (US$1.1B) project to research graphene commercialization. The project is investigating Woxna’s Swedish flake graphite, and its suitability to produce graphene on an industrial scale. The project is progressing well and it is anticipated that further updates will be provided in the coming months. Woxna, as one of Europe’s two graphite mines, and Sweden’s only graphite producer, can supply domestically sourced natural flake graphite which provides a clear strategic advantage for Sweden.
Flinders also remains in discussion with a number of industrial companies to explore synergies which may exist to help grow the business.
Flinders will be attending the 2016 Prospectors and Developers Association of Canada (PDAC) International Convention and Investors Exchange in Toronto on March 6-9. Please drop by and visit us at booth 2939.
The qualified person as defined in National Instrument 43-101 for the Woxna project, Blair Way, President and Chief Executive Officer and a director of the Company, and a Fellow of the Australasian Institute of Mining and Metallurgy, has reviewed and verified the contents of this release.
On behalf of the Board,
Vancouver, Canada – Flinders Resources Limited (“Flinders” or the “Company”) (TSXV: FDR), provides an update on its two key initiatives to produce high purity spherical graphite and graphene to position its 100% owned Woxna graphite mine as a leading supplier to the current and future graphite and graphene industries.
Mr Blair Way, President and CEO states, “The past 12 months has been a challenging time in the resource sector and the graphite market has not been immune. Low graphite demand for the last 6 months has lead to deflated prices. Nevertheless, with a tight control on our costs and a focus on value adding strategies, our initiatives provide cost effective means to grow our business and provide shareholders with a realistic vision for the future. With a production-ready, fully permitted graphite mine and processing facility, Flinders continues to maintain its position as the only graphite producer in the junior space that is positioned to react quickly to the anticipated increases in demand.”
The first initiative underway is the High Purity Graphite Project (see Flinders’ News Release August 18, 2015), which seeks to value add to its product stream via working with a strategic Chinese technology partner with a well-established design, build and operate capability in high purity graphite production. The second, the Swedish Graphene Project (“Svenskt Grafen”) (see Flinders’ News Release September 21, 2015), a Swedish-government funded program to research and commercialize the production of graphene from Swedish-sourced Woxna graphite.
Product from the Woxna graphite plant in Sweden was shipped to the Company’s Chinese technology supplier for detailed bench-scale test work to refine our existing high-purity flowsheet (see Flinders’ News Release June 25, 2015). The Company is pleased to advise that our Chinese engineering team has defined a process to upgrade Woxna graphite through standard acid alkali chemical purification techniques to battery grade graphite. Work is now underway to produce a larger quantity of high purity spherical graphite to commercial specifications, for end users to internally test for suitability in their battery manufacturing processes. Meetings with these consumers will take place during Q2 2016. A number of auto manufactures in the European Union (“EU”) are pursuing the development of electric vehicles more aggressively and we believe the Woxna production facility is well positioned to be an integral part of the EU supply chain for battery manufacturing.
The second initiative is the Swedish Graphene Project, which falls under the EU Graphene Flagship Project, a ten-year, €1 billion (US$1.1B) project to research graphene commercialization. The project is investigating Woxna’s Swedish flake graphite, and its suitability to produce graphene on an industrial scale. The project is progressing well and it is anticipated that further updates will be provided in the coming months. Woxna, as one of Europe’s two graphite mines, and Sweden’s only graphite producer, can supply domestically sourced natural flake graphite which provides a clear strategic advantage for Sweden.
Flinders also remains in discussion with a number of industrial companies to explore synergies which may exist to help grow the business.
Flinders will be attending the 2016 Prospectors and Developers Association of Canada (PDAC) International Convention and Investors Exchange in Toronto on March 6-9. Please drop by and visit us at booth 2939.
The qualified person as defined in National Instrument 43-101 for the Woxna project, Blair Way, President and Chief Executive Officer and a director of the Company, and a Fellow of the Australasian Institute of Mining and Metallurgy, has reviewed and verified the contents of this release.
On behalf of the Board,