Zenyatta to provide samples of its high-purity graphite for application testing
November 23, 2016
Following the recent announcement of a pre-feasibility study on its Albany graphite project located in northern Ontario, Canada, Zenyatta Ventures Ltd. has announced it has successfully produced a larger market sample designed to provide samples to various global corporations and academic institutions for application testing under a non-disclosure agreement.
A total of 57 kg of high-purity graphite material at a carbon purity of 99.9% was produced using the caustic bake/leach method, which was previously employed to produce high-purity market samples. This market sample will permit continued graphite and graphene validation testing by potential end-user partners, academic institutions and third party testing facilities under Zenyatta’s general market and business development program.
This latest sample was prepared from concentrate produced during a flotation pilot plant completed in 2014. Previous test work on small market samples are reported to have successfully confirmed the Albany graphite to have a very good crystal structure (hexagonal) with a very desirable purity and particle size for various applications such as lithium ion batteries, fuel cells, Powder Metallurgy and graphene production.
Dr Bharat Chahar, VP of Market Development for Zenyatta, stated, “Production of high-purity graphite market samples is critical and necessary in order to create and develop relationships with end-users during the product qualification and testing process. We will now contact our collaborators who are on a wait-list and prepare for delivery of samples in the coming days.”
The application for graphitic material is constantly evolving due to its unique chemical, electrical and thermal properties. It maintains its stability and strength under temperatures in excess of 3,000°C and is very resistant to chemical corrosion. It is also one of the lightest reinforcing elements and has high natural lubricating abilities.
Zenyatta stated that its Albany graphite can be upgraded with very good crystallinity without the use of aggressive acids (hydrofluoric) or high temperature thermal treatment, therefore having an environmental advantage over other types of upgraded high-purity graphite material.
