Altech HPA battery coating technology first-phase test results remain positive, advancing for the next stage

Altech Chemical, the high purity alumina producer confirmed that the results from first-phase testing of batteries that contain graphite particles coated with its proprietary high purity alumina coating technology remain positive. Test work will now advance to the next stage comprising further testing of battery charging and discharging with the focus of demonstrating repeatability and consistency.

The Australia headquartered company lately accomplished initial-stage demonstrations of its technology which coats graphite particles typical of those used in anode applications within lithium-ion batteries with a nanolayer of high purity alumina, a product that Altech is looking to produce out of Malaysia from its long-life feedstock of kaolin in Western Australia.

Altech said: “The initial trials performed at WA universities late last year showed that its coating process could deposit a uniform and consistent layer of alumina about 2 nanometres thick onto anode-grade graphite particles.”

“Uniformity and consistency of an alumina coating on anode-grade graphite were both expected to be important factors in improving lithium-ion battery performance and life”.

During the first phase of testing, a batch of battery electrodes was manufactured using non-coated standard anode-grade graphite particles and a separate batch was produced that contained anode-grade graphite particles coated with HPA using Altech’s technology.

According to the company, a total of 100 cycles of cell charge and discharge was accomplished and results for the coated graphite anodes compared to the non-coated anodes were “positive and encouraging”.

Test work of the HPA producer will now proceed to the next stage involving additional runs of battery charge and discharge to return results that demonstrate repeatability and consistency.

Correlating with the battery testing at Altech’s 75% stake held subsidiary, Altech Industries Germany’s imminent pre-feasibility study, or “PFS” on the possible construction of battery materials high purity alumina, or “HPA” coating plant in Saxony, Germany.

The management said: “The current battery test work results will be incorporated into the PFS, which forms part of Altech’s strategy to focus on tailoring its HPA to specialised products for more efficient applications within the lithium-ion battery industry.”

“The PFS will appraise the economic viability of building the plant, which would be designed to coat anode-grade battery materials with HPA using the company’s alumina coating process.”

However, Altech aspires to eventually fulfil the HPA feedstock requirements for the potential German coating plant via its proposed HPA plant in Malaysia.

High Purity Alumina is generally applied as a coating on the separator sheets used in lithium-ion batteries, with the alumina-coated separators enhances battery performance, durability and safety.