Canada Carbon Reports High Order Crystallinity of Its Miller
Graphite by Raman Spectroscopy, as Well as Dispersion and
Exfoliation to Graphene
VANCOUVER, BRITISH COLUMBIA--(Marketwired - Feb 4, 2014) -
Canada Carbon Inc. (the "Company") (TSX-VENTURE:CCB) is pleased to
report the results of the first in a series of laboratory
characterization tests being conducted by Evans Analytical Group
(EAG) on its Miller high-purity hydrothermal graphite. The
crystallinity results reported herein were obtained using Raman
spectroscopy, which definitively determines the degree of
crystallinity of certain materials, including graphite. The EAG
laboratory report summarizes the results, as follows: "The Raman
spectrum was that of a single crystal of graphite. The crystalline
quality of the graphite was better than any other industrial
graphite sample we at EAG have analyzed to date."
Bench-scale tests to examine the dispersion behavior of the
Miller graphite were conducted by Dr. Karol Putyera at EAG
Liverpool, NY laboratory. When this sample was immersed in a common
industrial chemical, carbon disulphide (CS2), it partially
exfoliated. Dr. Putyera remarked, "In combination with the
exceptional high purity and highly crystalline nature of the Miller
graphite, this dispersion behavior could lead to solution-based
processing of this material for producing graphene, which opens up
a wide range of potential applications."
Other characterization procedures, including X-Ray Diffraction
Spectroscopy (XRD), to provide greater insight into the crystalline
nature of the Miller graphite, and Scanning Electron Microscopy
(SEM), to provide visual images of the crystals, are currently
being conducted. The results of those procedures are expected
shortly, and will be reported when received.
The Company also reports that management, accompanied by
technical and legal advisors, recently met in Ottawa with a number
of federal government officials from various agencies, to ensure
that the Company is in full compliance with import/export controls,
licensing, and documentation required by domestic and international
law with respect to production and shipments of nuclear and
military grade graphite. The Company further advises that
additional meetings with federal government officials are
planned.
About the Raman
Spectroscopic Results
Raman spectroscopy is the collection of light inelastically
scattered by a material or compound. When a light of known
wavelength strikes a material, the light is shifted according to
the chemical functionalities of the material. The intensity of this
shifted light depends on both molecular structure and
macrostructure. As a result of these phenomena, the collection of
the shifted light gives a Raman spectrum that can provide direct
information regarding the molecular vibrations of the compound or
material. We can then interpret this information to determine
chemical structure, organization, and in some cases, non-covalent
intermolecular interactions. The Raman spectrum of graphite is very
well characterized, which permits clear interpretations of the
Raman spectra of graphite test materials, based on the component
peak intensities and positions of the spectral features.
A sample of the Miller high-purity graphite was submitted to a
"LabRam" J-Y Spectrometer. An Ar+ ion laser (514.5 nm wavelength)
with an 1800 gr/mm grating were used for the measurements. The
Raman spectra were collected in the backscattering geometry (180
degrees) under an Olympus BX40 microscope. The key spectral
features collected were the G-band (1579 cm-1) and D-band (1350
cm-1), where the G-band is theoretically the only permitted band
arising from a single crystal of graphite, and the D-band is a
measure of the disorder within the crystal. The sharp,
high-intensity, narrow-shouldered G-band peak strongly suggests
that the sample is a single crystal of graphite. The proportionally
very small D-band peak indicates extremely low disorder in that
crystal, and may be due to minor mechanical damage experienced by
the crystal during earlier processing. The complete Raman report,
which includes the Raman spectrum of high-quality industrial
graphite for comparative purposes, can be viewed at the following
link:
http://www.canadacarbon.com/docs/Raman_Spectroscopy_EAG.pdf.
About the Exfoliative
Behavior of the Graphite
Currently, most producers intent on separating natural graphite
into individual sheets (graphene) or low-multiple sheet graphene
use variations on Hummer's Method, which involves some very harsh
chemicals that can oxidize the graphene sheets. Those defects can
be partially repaired by chemical reduction, yielding reduced
graphene oxide. The quality of the graphene produced by this method
is not only variable, it can be quite poor when compared to
graphene produced by synthetic methods. Synthetic graphene,
although often of very high quality, is much more expensive to
produce.
The last step in the exfoliation of graphene from natural
graphite by Hummer's method (the actual separation of the
individual graphene layers) is by immersion in a polar solvent, in
combination with sonication (high-frequency vibrations induced by
ultra-sound emitters). Dr. Karol Putyera, working at EAG, dispersed
a sample of the high-purity Miller graphite in the non-polar
solvent carbon disulphide, and without sonication, the sample
partially exfoliated.
R. Bruce Duncan, CEO and Director of Canada Carbon, remarked,
"Our Miller hydrothermal graphite has once again exceeded our most
optimistic expectations. Following our earlier metallurgical
testing at SGS Lakefield, which yielded graphite as pure as could
be determined by their analytical method (please refer to the press
release dated July 23, 2013, "Canada Carbon Achieves 100% Graphitic
Carbon on Second Purification Test on Miller Graphite Sample"), a
sample of that same material was shown to be of nuclear-grade
purity by GD-MS (please refer to press release dated October 15,
2013). Then, we were able to show that brief thermal upgrading
could remove more than 90% of the already very low contaminant
burden (please refer to press release dated December 12, 2013). And
now, we have clear scientific evidence of the high order
crystallinity of our Miller hydrothermal graphite. Moreover, the
simple process to exfoliate the graphite to graphene, in
combination with its highly crystalline nature and high purity,
will also allow us to produce top-quality graphene materials. This
will give us access to yet another high-value market."
Mr. Duncan further states, "We hope to soon receive our Bulk
Sampling Permit, which will allow us to significantly expand our
test work program. Because we have numerous veins exposed at
surface, we can not only systematically determine the
characteristics of the individual graphite occurrences, we can
easily extract substantial amounts from each one. With that
information, we can proceed with our planning to develop a mine on
the Miller property. It is Canada Carbon's goal to commercialize
its Miller project, with speed to market the top priority for our
highly differentiated graphite."
A full update of current exploration results at Miller
(trenching and drilling) is to be released soon after reception of
analytical results from Activation Laboratories of Ancaster,
Ontario.
Rémi Charbonneau, Ph.D., P. Geo #290 (an Associate of Inlandsis
Consultants s.e.n.c.) is an Independent Qualified Person under
National Instrument 43-101, and has reviewed and approved the
technical information provided in this news release.
On Behalf of the Board of Directors
CANADA CARBON INC.
R. Bruce Duncan, CEO and Director
"Neither 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 adequacy or
accuracy of this release."
FORWARD LOOKING STATEMENTS: This news release contains
forward-looking statements, which relate to future events or future
performance and reflect management's current expectations and
assumptions. Such forward-looking statements reflect management's
current beliefs and are based on assumptions made by and
information currently available to the Company. Investors are
cautioned that these forward looking statements are neither
promises nor guarantees, and are subject to risks and uncertainties
that may cause future results to differ materially from those
expected. These forward-looking statements are made as of the date
hereof and, except as required under applicable securities
legislation, the Company does not assume any obligation to update
or revise them to reflect new events or circumstances. All of the
forward-looking statements made in this press release are qualified
by these cautionary statements and by those made in our filings
with SEDAR in Canada (available at www.sedar.com).
Canada Carbon Inc.(604) 638-0971(604)
638-0973info@canadacarbon.comwww.canadacarbon.com
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