Alabama Graphite Corp. Announces Positive, Independent Battery-Ready Graphite (CSPG) Electrochemical Test Results from Physical Sciences Inc. (PSI); Demonstrated Stable Cycling Over 80 Cycles
10:08 EDT Monday, May 08, 2017
TORONTO, ONTARIO--(Marketwired - May 8, 2017) - Alabama Graphite Corp. ("AGC" or the "Company") (TSX VENTURE:CSPG)(OTCQB:CSPGF)(FRANKFURT:1AG) is pleased to announce Physical Sciences Inc. ("PSI") of Andover, Massachusetts, USA has achieved positive, independent electrochemical test results from the Company's 100% sourced-and-manufactured-in-USA ULTRACSPG™ natural Coated Spherical Purified Graphite ("CSPG"). Additionally, PSI witnessed stable cycling over more than 80 cycles, demonstrating the electrochemical stability of the Company's CSPG.
AGC's ULTRACSPG - the first trademarked sourced-in-America, battery-ready graphite for use in lithium-ion ("Li-ion") batteries - is sourced and manufactured exclusively from the Company's flagship Coosa Graphite Project property, located in Coosa County, Alabama, USA. All requisite downstream secondary processing to manufacture AGC's CSPG was conducted in the contiguous USA.
PSI is an internationally known and well-respected research and development company for both the United States Department of Defense "DoD" and United States Department of Energy ("DOE"). Founded in 1973, PSI has received numerous grants and funding from the DoD and DOE, and has both government and corporate clients. PSI has provided AGC with an independent evaluation and qualification of the Company's CSPG Li-ion battery anode material.
TEST RESULTS
In Q4 2016, AGC conveyed a sample of its D50 15-micron ("μm") CSPG to PSI for electrochemical testing. Led by Dr. Christopher M. Lang, Principal Research Scientist and Area Manager, Material and Energy Technologies for PSI, initial testing of AGC's CSPG anode material was performed by preparing anode electrodes on traditional copper ("Cu") foil at a loading of ~7mg/cm2 and 92% active material. Graphite anodes were first cycled versus lithium ("Li") metal in coin cells at a C-rate of C/10, between 5 millivolts ("mV") to 1.0 volt ("V"). After conditioning cycles, the half-cells repeatedly delivered discharge capacities of 350 milliampere hours per gram ("mAh/g").
Following the positive half-cell electrochemical results, PSI proceeded to larger-scale testing. CSPG anodes with the same formulation were cast on a novel proprietary current collector PSI is developing for these tests. The prepared CSPG anodes were integrated into pouch-sized (300 mAh) full cells to investigate long-term cycling efficiency. The capacity the cells manufactured with AGC's CSPG anodes deliver is consistent with that measured for pouch cells built with a MCMB anode. This indicates the anodes manufactured with CSPG are performing as expected, based on the half-cell data. On continuing cycling of the full cells made with CSPG PSI witnessed stable cycling over more than 80 cycles with cycling ongoing. PSI plans additional testing of pouch cells constructed with anodes prepared using AGC's CSPG at the same scale in the coming months.
Note: A C-rate is a measure of the rate at which a battery is discharged relative to its maximum capacity. A C-rate of C/10 means that the necessary current is applied or drained from the battery to completely charge or discharge it in 10 hours, which is a low discharge rate.
Upon further successful validation by PSI, the CSPG battery-ready anode graphite will be a candidate for use in future cell designs, particularly for DoD- and DoE-funded projects.
These most recent electrochemical test results from PSI further validate previous testing of AGC's CSPG versus synthetic graphite in Li-ion battery testing. Please refer to the Company's January 19, 2016 announcement, 'Independent Test Results: Alabama Graphite Corp. Succeeds in Producing High-Performance Coated Spherical Purified Graphite (CSPG) for Lithium-ion Batteries', in which US-based independent testing indicated AGC's CSPG achieved first cycling efficiencies of 94.91% (Irreversible Capacity Loss of 5.09%; a ~95% efficient battery) versus commercial synthetic graphite at 93.94% (Irreversible Capacity Loss of 6.06%; a ~94% efficient battery).
President and Chief Executive Officer, Donald Baxter commented, "These positive electrochemical test results are fantastic news for AGC. As with Oak Ridge National Laboratory's independent electrochemical test results (per the Company's April 10, 2017 announcement entitled, 'Alabama Graphite Corp. Announces Research Partnership with United States Department of Energy's Oak Ridge National Laboratory; Receives Positive Preliminary Battery-Ready Graphite Test Results'), AGC's battery-ready CSPG has again demonstrated its excellent high performance in Li-ion batteries and its superiority to premium-quality, but environmentally harsh and significantly more expensive synthetic graphite.
"PSI has achieved high numbers of reversible capacity as well as stable cycling with CSPG versus the laboratory's synthetic graphite control. We are extremely pleased to report that PSI is satisfied with AGC's battery-ready material and has already moved onto the next stage of testing, which consists of making full cells with our CSPG in a prismatic format."
For more information about AGC's specialty, secondary processing to produce its CSPG please refer to the June 2016 comprehensive independent report, 'Alabama Graphite's Coated Spherical Purified Graphite for the Lithium-ion Battery Industry,' researched and prepared by Dr. Gareth P. Hatch, CEng, FIMMM, FIET, President of Innovation Metals Corp., Founding Principal of Technology Metals Research, LLC, and Independent Director of the Company.
AGC's COMMITMENT TO ENVIRONMENTAL SUSTAINABILITY
AGC's graphite is purified via the Company's propriety, low-temperature thermal purification process. AGC's environmentally responsible and sustainable graphite purification process does not utilize caustic chemicals or harsh acids that are commonly regarded as dangerous and environmentally harmful (e.g. hydrofluoric acid - as is commonly used in Chinese graphite production - hydrochloric acid, sulfuric acid, nitric acids, or alkali roasting, caustic-soda roasting, etc.), nor does the process require copious amounts of clean water or costly, energy-intensive high-temperature thermal upgrading. Please refer to the Company's February 17, 2017 announcement, 'Alabama Graphite Corp. Achieves 99.99997% Graphite Purity via Proprietary, Environmentally Responsible and Sustainable Purification Process; Exceeds Nuclear Graphite Purity Requirements.'
A technical data sheet ("TDS") for AGC's ULTRACSPG battery-ready anode graphite is available at www.alabamagraphite.com.
AGC will continue to update shareholders and the market in a timely fashion of further material developments with respect to this and other potential American-based end users, as we are able to disclose. Please note, certain potential end users preclude the Company from announcing any aspect of its relationship and activities, ranging from the execution of an NDA to the shipment(s) of sample material(s).
On behalf of the Board of Directors of ALABAMA GRAPHITE CORP.
Donald K. D. Baxter, P.Eng., President, Chief Executive Officer and Executive Director
QUALIFIED PERSON
Donald K. D. Baxter, P.Eng., President, Chief Executive Officer and Executive Director of Alabama Graphite Corp., is a Qualified Person as defined by National Instrument 43-101 ("N.I. 43-101") guidelines, and has reviewed and approved the content of this news release.
ABOUT PYSICAL SCIENCES INC.
Physical Sciences Inc. ("PSI") provides contract research and development services in a variety of technical areas to both government and commercial customers. Established in 1973, PSI has a highly interdisciplinary staff with advanced degrees in chemistry, biology, physics and applied physics, electrical, aeronautical, and mechanical engineering, and materials science. This diverse staff allows PSI to apply emerging science to important problems and continue to grow and develop novel enabling technologies across a range of markets.