Focus Graphite Introduces Its New “Superfine Grade” of Coated Spherical Graphite for Lithium Batteries to the International Battery Industry
October 10, 2017
For Immediate Release
FMS: TSX-VENTURE
Focus Graphite Introduces Its New “Superfine Grade” of Coated Spherical
Graphite for Lithium Batteries to the International Battery Industry
OTTAWA -– Focus Graphite Inc. (TSX:V; OTCQX: FCSMF; FSE: FKC) is pleased to announce
the introduction of a Superfine Grade of coated spherical graphite product sourced from its Lac
Knife Graphite Project at Fermont, Quebec.
The Company’s manufacturing accomplishment was achieved under the direction of Dr. Joseph
Doninger, Focus’ Director of Manufacturing and Technology, and follows the Company’s original
May 27, 2014 announcement of the development of its premium standard (medium) and fine
battery grades, and; its subsequent August 8, 2016 announcement of the successful purification
of Lac Knife’s fine grade material to 99.99% purity which is shown in the following Scanning
Electron Microscope (SEM) photomicrograph of a flake of purified Lac Knife graphite.
SEM of Purified Lac Knife Flake Graphite
Focus Graphite’s new Superfine Grade graphite product development was first presented to the
34th International Battery Symposium (IBS) in Fort Lauderdale, Florida, by Dr. Doninger on
March 21, 2017.
Highlights include:
- Market introduction of Focus’ first Superfine coated spherical graphite
- Enlarges Company’s potential customer base
- Expands Focus Graphite’s value-added product range
Focus Graphite’s development and introduction of a Superfine Grade to the battery market
represents a milestone in the Company’s ongoing efforts to continuously improve its products to
meet industry demands and are intended for use in various lithium-ion battery applications. The
1st cycle Galvanostatic curves in Figure 1 show that the new Superfine grade of spherical
graphite has a very high reversible capacity of 360 mAh/g and low first cycle loss of only 1.19%.
Figure 1.
INITIAL GALVANOSTATIC CHARGE-DISCHARGE CURVES FOR SUPERFINE GRADE OF
COATED SPG D50 = 11.9μm
Dr. Doninger said the main benefit of the Superfine Grade is based upon the physical reality of
the graphite’s performance within the anode of a lithium ion battery.
“As the particle size decreases, the time it takes for the lithium-ion to transfer into the graphite
structure during charging and out during discharging, thereby improving charging rates,” he said.
An SEM photomicrograph of the Superfine Grade of the Lac Knife spherical graphite is shown
below.
SEM of Superfine Grade of Lac Knife Spherical Graphite
The particle size distribution curves for the new Superfine Grade of spherical graphite are
compared with the Standard and Fine Grade curves in Fig. 2 and show that Focus now offers a
wide range of particle sizes to meet the demands of the battery industry.
Figure 2.
PARTICLE SIZE DISTRIBUTIONS OF SUPERFINE, FINE AND STANDARD GRADES OF
LAC KNIFE SPG
Dr. Doninger noted that the high Reversible Capacity of 360 mAh/g, low Irreversible Capacity
Loss of 1.19% and low surface area of 0.89 m 2/g for the new Superfine Grade of spherical
graphite compare very favorably with the Lac Knife’s Standard and Fine grades introduced in
2014 as shown in Table 1.
Table 1.
COMPARISON OF THE ELECTROCHEMICAL PERFORMANCE OF THREE GRADES OF
LAC KNIFE SPHERICAL GRAPHITE (SPG)
The Company knows of no other junior graphite developer today with a deposit capable of
competitively converting their fine flake component to battery grade production.
Focus Graphite President and Chief Executive Officer Gary Economo said the Company’s
ongoing R&D and materials testing aims to position Focus as a commercially competitive and
important source of new graphite products for next generation energy storage and production.
Focus is currently engaged in battery testing with more than 20 potential end -users and seven
universities and government laboratories.
“The key to growth of our value-added products stems from our technology vision of investing in
those in-house process developments that meet future demands of the battery manufacturing
industry,” Mr. Economo said.
“In this regard, and as evidenced by the periodic publications of data in support of our progress,
Focus remains committed to achieving its long -held goal of unlocking shareholder value from
that technology vision,” Mr. Economo said.
As a technology graphite developer, Focus is deeply engaged in R&D and development of
graphite concentrate and value added products for a low carbon economy.
Focus has established a recent history of technological successes by designing processes
leading to superior performing coated spherical graphite for use in battery anodes and high
performing expanded graphite for use in Li-Ion battery cathodes.
The Company’s proprietary, low temperature process, developed by a Focus Graphite technical
team headed by Dr. Doninger, is believed to be more efficient than very high temperature
thermal purification and is suitable for the removal of specific types of impurities found in the Lac
Knife graphite deposit.
Focus' low temperature process versus conventional very high temperature purification
processes obviates the use of large amounts of energy - one of the largest single cost
components of graphite purification.
Focus Graphite has acquired an intimate understanding of both the future needs of the battery
manufacturing sector and trends in that sector as a long -standing Board Member of Chicago-
based NAATBatt International (the National Alliance for Advanced Transportation Batteries).
Holding the ability to purify Lac Knife's fine flakes expands the company's potential to sell
substantially more of the graphite extracted from Lac Knife into high-value, high-tech
applications instead of approximately 30 percent being sold for lower value industrial
applications.
The path from graphite product development to the battery manufacturers' testing labs is a
lengthy, multi-step process.
Staged R&D testing is a prerequisite to the sale, or offtake, of any manufactured graphite for use
in lithium-ion, alkaline and lead-acid batteries in the automobile, consumer, medical equipment,
tools, hand-held industrial devices and aviation manufacturing ind ustries or with military
equipment suppliers.
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 pr ice; (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 purpose s. 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 Economo
Chief Executive Officer
+1 613-241-4040
www.focusgraphite.com