Focus Graphite Reports Excellent Long Term Cycling Results From Its Testing of Lac Knife High Purity Spherical Coated Graphite; Lithium-Ion Batteries Show Zero Capacity Loss After 250 Cycles Testing Indicates Potential to Exceed 2000 Cycles in Automotive Batteries
September 28, 2017
For Immediate Release
FMS: TSX-VENTURE
Focus Graphite Reports Excellent Long Term Cycling Results From Its Testing of Lac
Knife High Purity Spherical Coated Graphite; Lithium-Ion Batteries Show Zero Capacity
Loss After 250 Cycles
Testing Indicates Potential to Exceed 2000 Cycles in Automotive Batteries
OTTAWA -- Focus Graphite Inc. (FMS: TSX-V; OTCQX: FCSMF; FSE: FKC) (“Focus” or the
“Company”) is pleased to announce excellent results from ongoing independent laboratory tests
comparing long term cycling performance of Lac Knife surface coated spherical crystalline fine
flake graphite against commercially competitive standard grades of coated crystalline flake
graphite in the anodes of CR2016 coin cells.
The results presented are a follow up from data presented in Focus’ November 25, 2015 news
release where similar tests were run on Lac Knife’ standard grade spherical graphite. Those
tests exhibited essentially zero loss in capacity after 110 cycles versus two commercially
competitive grades that showed losses of 4.4% and 6.4% over the same number of cycles.
Testing was conducted at a globally recognized laboratory in Europe. The name of the
laboratory is being withheld because of commercial and competitive confidentiality.
Ongoing Life Cycle Testing
On November 25, 2015 Focus Graphite published data showing that its Lac Knife Standard
Grade of uncoated and coated spherical graphite exhibited essentially zero loss in capacity after
110 cycles versus two commercially competitive grades that showed losses of 4.4% and 6.4%
over the same number of cycles.
In a presentation to the International Battery Seminar in Fort Lauderdale, Florida on March 26,
2017, Dr. Joseph Doninger, Focus’ Director of Manufacturing and Technology presented long
term cycling test results showing that the zero loss in capacity of th e Standard Grade of coated
spherical graphite lasted for 250 cycles and showed a loss of only 4.5% in capacity after 570
cycles compared with losses of 11.7% after 440 cycles and 10.5% after 510 cycles for a
competitive supplier’s coated spherical graphite.
He said that projecting these results suggests that Lac Knife’s coated SPG could last beyond
2000 cycles in full sized batteries. “A good rule of thumb to use in comparing the long term
cycling performance of different graphites in Lithium Ion batteries is determining how many
cycles a battery will last before losing 20% of its capacity,” Dr. Doninger said.
Focus Graphite is the sole owner of the high purity Lac Knife natural flake graphite project in the
Côte-Nord region of northeastern Québec.
The Company’s aim is to become one of the lowest cost producers of high -purity technology
graphite. The purpose of its ongoing battery materials testing efforts is to validate the
commercial viability of the high purity crystalline flake graphite recovered from its Lac Knife
deposit, and to demonstrate that Lac Knife graphite holds the potential to improve the
performance of anodes in Lithium Ion batteries. (See May 27th, 2014 and February 26th, 2015
News Releases).
The properties of the flake graphite recovered from the Lac Knife high quality and high carbon
content graphite deposit, allow for the recovery of concentrate that grades 98% C even in the
finer size fractions down to 200 mesh (75 microns) that are usually the most difficult products to
sell. This holds the potential for Focus to create a high-margin business opportunity by providing
customers with a finer grade, lower cost, value-added graphite product.
Battery manufacturers require a cost competitive alternative to current sources o f synthetic and
natural flake graphite. China produces the majority of the world’s purified SPG, using methods
generally regarded as environmentally unsustainable.
Presentation of Data:
All Lac Knife flake graphite materials tested were purified, spheronized and sized for application
in the anodes (negative electrodes) of Lithium-Ion batteries. The anodes for all samples tested
consisted of 90% graphite, 7% PVDF binder and 3% carbon black and a copper coil current
collector with a thickness of 20 microns. All cells were assembled and tested in a CR2016 coin
cell configuration prepared with 1M LiPF6/EC/DMC electrolyte and lithium foil counter
electrodes. The coin cells were then cycled between 0.003 and 1.5 volts. Formation was carried
out with C/10 current density and cycling was carried out with the same voltage limits at C/10. To
evaluate the cycling performance, half cells made with the lithium metal counter electrode were
charged and discharged at a relatively low current density and cycled galvanostatically at a C/10
rate until the limit of the test was reached.
Focus is currently engaged in battery testing with more than 20 potential end -users and seven
universities and government laboratories.
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.
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 industries 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 se cond 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 b e 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 investor s 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 da te 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