Leading Edge Materials Produces Expandable Graphite In Line With Current Market Products from Woxna, Sweden
Leading Edge Materials Produces Expandable
Graphite In Line With Current Market Products
from Woxna, Sweden
VANCOUVER
,
July 30, 2019
/CNW/ -
Leading Edge Materials Corp.
("
Leading Edge Materials
"
or the
"Company
") (
TSXV: LEM
) (
OTCQB: LEMIF
) (
Nasdaq First North: LEMSE
) is pleased to
announce the successful completion of the first phase of test work to manufacture expandable
graphite using material from the Woxna graphite mine in Sweden. Expandable graphite provides
potential for creation of additional value-added products from Woxna.
Key Points:
Expandable graphite has been produced and tested, with its performance in-line with
commercially available materials currently in the market;
Expandable natural graphite is a critical industrial material, with a significant and growing market
for fire resistant building products, textiles and graphite foils;
The manufacturing methods tested did not require the use of toxic chemicals;
Pricing of expandable graphite is based on flake size, expansion ratio and purity, and lies in the
range of
US$2000
–
US$4000
per tonne;
Provides the potential for creation of additional value-added products from the Woxna graphite
mine in
Sweden
;
Research was completed in
Germany
with leading consultancy ProGraphite GmbH
("
ProGraphite
"). ProGraphite used run-of-mine +80 mesh (>180 micron) material from the Woxna
mine to test a range of standard process variables. Testing demonstrated that a combination of
sulphuric acid and potassium permanganate delivered optimal results, expanding up to 215 ml/g (480
times) when heated to 1000°C.
This degree of expansion is in line with expandable graphite products available in the market today.
Additional process optimization and product improvement is anticipated through further research.
The methods tested did not require the use of toxic chromium, lead, or bromine-bearing chemicals
that are used in the manufacture of some Chinese expandable graphites.
Mr.
Mark Saxon
, Interim CEO stated,
"Expandable graphite is a high value application for graphite
flakes that are larger in size and of a lower purity than that required for battery anode materials.
The work completed by ProGraphite using stockpiled material from the Woxna mine has
demonstrated that our material expands in line with current commercial products, using a process
that does not require any toxic chemicals.
We will continue to pursue this research in parallel with our battery anode materials, which
provides potential for additional value-added products. Please contact the Company to receive
expandable graphite samples from the Woxna mine."
Expandable graphite exploits the remarkable anisotropic property of natural flake graphite. Mild
non-toxic chemicals (in this case sulfuric acid) are positioned between individual graphite flakes,
which when exposed to heat converts from a solid or liquid to a gas phase causing a dramatic
accordion-like expansion.
Expandable Graphite Applications
Expandable natural graphite is a critical industrial material, with a significant and growing market.
Current market size is estimated to be 70,000 to 80,000 tonnes per year, with approximately 45% of
demand coming from manufacture of fire-resistant materials. Other market segments include
flexible foils, conductivity additives, and a small volume as a graphene manufacturing pre-cursor.
Demand for expandable graphite for fire resistant building products and textiles are both substantial
and fast growing. When incorporated in building materials and plastics, the dramatic expansion on
heating greatly reduces product flammability, as the expanded graphite forms a protective barrier in
the event of fire. Globally, governments are moving to restrict use of flammable building materials,
with the China Building Materials Application Technology Research Institute stating in 2018 "
China
needs 4 0 million tonnes of fire-retardant building materials per annum, which will contain 5%
expandable graphite."
Expandable Graphite Applications (CNW Group/Leading Edge Materials)
In addition to fire resistant building materials, expanded graphite is an important pre-cursor for the
manufacture of flexible graphite foils and papers which provide very light weight heat dispersion and
shielding properties. The low density expanded graphite is rolled and compressed into thin flexible
sheets which provide high heat, corrosion and compression resistance. Graphite foils are
incorporated in many mobile electrical devices to safely disperse heat away from the battery
source. Rapid demand growth is forecast due to the increasing use of high energy density batteries
in mobile devices. Emerging markets also exist for expandable graphite as a precursor for graphene
manufacturing.
Pricing of expandable graphite is based on flake size, expansion ratio and purity, and lies in the
range of
US$2000
–
US$4000
per tonne. Of note, the purity requirements for expandable graphite
is substantially lower than battery materials. Leading Edge Materials is now preparing for follow up
test work with increased sample size to optimize process conditions and material economics.
Expandable Graphite Manufactured in Europe Using Woxna Graphite - Approximate Scale Bar
shown: left = 10mm, right = 3mm (CNW Group/Leading Edge Materials)
On behalf of the Board of Directors,
Leading Edge Materials Corp.
Mr.
Mark Saxon
, Interim CEO
About Leading Edge Materials
Leading Edge Materials is a Canadian public company focused on production of high value critical
raw materials for the European market, with an operating base in the Nordic region, a region well
recognized for its promotion and investment in innovation. LEM's flagship asset is the Woxna
Graphite production facility located in central
Sweden
targeting the supply of specialty materials for
lithium ion battery production. LEM's assets and research focus are towards the raw materials for
Li-ion batteries (graphite, lithium, cobalt); materials for high thermal efficiency building products
(graphite, silica, nepheline); and materials that improve the efficiency of energy generation
(dysprosium, neodymium, hafnium). Investments are linked to the global shift to low-carbon energy
generation and energy storage.
Additional Information
The information was submitted for publication through the agency of the contact person set out
above, at 30
th
of July, 2019, at
4:30 am
Vancouver
time.
Leading Edge Materials is listed on the TSXV under the symbol "LEM" and Nasdaq First North
Stockholm under the symbol "LEMSE". Mangold Fondkommission AB is the Company's CA on
Nasdaq First North and may be contacted at +46 (0) 8 5030 1550.
Reader Advisory
This news release may contain
statements which constitute "
forward-looking information
",
including statements regarding the plans, intentions, beliefs and
current expectations
of the
Company, its directors, or its officers with respect to the future business activities of the Company.
The words "may", "would", "could", "will", "intend", "plan", "anticipate", "believe", "estimate",
"expect" and similar expressions,
as
they relate to the Company, or its management, are intended
to identify such forward-looking statements. Investors are cautioned that any such forward-looking
statements are not
guarantees of future
business activities and
involve risks
and
uncertainties
,
and
that
the Company's future business activities
may
differ
materially from those
in the forward-
looking
statements
as a result of various factors, including,
but not limited to,
fluctuations in market
prices, successes of the operations of the Company, continued availability of capital and financing
and general economic, market or business
conditions
. There can be no assurances that such
information
will prove accurate and, therefore, readers are advised to rely on their own evaluation
of such uncertainties. The Company does not assume
any obligation to update any forward-looking
information except as required
under the applicable securities laws.
Woxna has never defined a mineral reserve and the previous preliminary economic assessment
on Woxna dated
October 29, 2013
, has been superseded by the Company's current technical
report dated
May 11, 2015
. As the Woxna facility is not in production but remains on a production
ready status, any future decision to recommence mining at Woxna will not be based on a
preliminary economic assessment demonstrating the potential viability of mineral resources or
feasibility study of mineral reserves demonstrating economic and technical viability. Under these
circumstances, there is increased risk of technical and economic failure for the Woxna project, and
the Company discloses additional risk factors relating thereto. The Company advises that it has not
based its production decision on a feasibility study of mineral reserves, demonstrating economic
and technical viability, and, as a result, there may be an increased uncertainty of achieving any
particular level of recovery of minerals or the cost of such recovery, including increased risks
associated with developing a commercially mineable deposit. Historically, such projects have a
much higher risk of economic and technical failure. There is no guarantee that production will
begin as anticipated or at all or that anticipated production costs will be achieved. Failure to
commence production would have a material adverse impact on the Company's ability to generate
revenue and cash flow to fund operations. Failure to achieve any anticipated production costs
would have a material adverse impact on the Company's cash flow and future profitability. Mineral
resources that are not mineral reserves do not have demonstrated economic viability.
Neither the TSX Venture Exchange nor its Regulation Services Provider (as that term is defined in
the policies of the TSX Venture Exchange) accept responsibility for the adequacy or accuracy of
this news release.
SOURCE
Leading Edge Materials
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For further information:
For further information, please contact the Company at: 1.604.685.9316,
[email protected], www.leadingedgematerials.com
CO: Leading Edge Materials
CNW 07:30e 30-JUL-19