International Graphite Ltd (ASX:IG6) has received promising early results after testing the first product samples from its pilot-scale graphite plant in WA.
Scanning electron microscopy work indicates that high-quality spheroidised graphite can be generated from the Collie pilot plant — a key part of IG6’s plan to produce battery anode materials (BAM) for the booming lithium-ion battery market.
Moving forward, International Graphite will optimise its Collie pilot plant to provide process design data and operating experience for its future BAM operations.
Crucially, the pilot facility is one of the first of its size to produce micronised and spheroidised material for battery anodes in Australia.
Bringing graphite anode tech to Australia’s battery industry
Commenting on the achievement, International Graphite executive chairman Phil Hearse said: “These results are outstanding for the first run from the Collie pilot plant and demonstrate the fastidious preparation and planning that has gone into the equipment installation and operation.
“Our technical knowledge of downstream graphite processing is now being enhanced by hands-on operating experience with equipment that we expect to install in our future BAM facility.
“These outcomes are the beginning of downstream graphite anode technology being applied in the Australian battery industry.
“International Graphite will continue to grow its knowledge and experience in the production of battery anode materials as we head towards future commercial operations.”
Generating spherodised graphite
IG6’s pilot plant is able to make spherodised ‘potato’ graphite particles — a size and shape that make them ideal for battery anode production.
To do this, the plant breaks the graphite concentrate down into very small particles, transforming them into roughly a tenth of their original 100-micron size.
From there, the micronised product is fed to the spheroidising mill to make it into the ideal shape for BAM production.
Down the line, IG6 plans to establish a vertically integrated operation, where the Collie downstream plant will process graphite concentrate produced at the company’s Springdale Graphite Project.
The micronised and spheroidised graphite product will then be purified and is also expected to be coated to produce a finished product suitable for lithium-ion battery anodes.
Ultimately, IG6 believes that producing a coated BAM product in Australia for export to global anode manufacturers would capture the full value of the graphite resource.
