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."
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.
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 30th 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