Impact Minerals Limited ( ASX: IPT) has taken a step forward towards building a fully integrated high-purity alumina business, following a fresh tech collaboration with Technology Collaboration Agreement with Charge CCCV LLC (C4V), a US-based battery technology firm.
The partnership is essentially signed between Alluminous Pty Ltd., where Impact holds 50 per cent share and a leading battery firm with an objective to advance and qualify Alluminous’ HiPurA® HPA process for use in advanced battery systems, an area of growing demand as global battery supply chains continue to evolve.
The agreement aligns with Impact’s broader strategy of linking upstream feedstock from its Lake Hope project with downstream HPA production, creating a vertically integrated operation capable of supplying battery-grade material into international markets. The collaboration will accentuate Impact’s exposure to the US clean-energy sector, where manufacturers are actively seeking secure, non-Chinese sources of critical battery inputs.
Impact Minerals’ Managing Director, Dr Mike Jones, said the collaboration represented a significant achievement for Alluminous, especially given the relatively short timeframe since the HiPurA® technology was acquired.
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In Mike Jones’ words: ““We are delighted to see Alluminous enter into this important collaboration with C4V and we congratulate Alluminous’ CEO, David Leavy and his team for reaching this important milestone only six months after purchasing the technology. The agreement provides a clear and accelerated pathway to qualify the HiPurA® high-purity alumina process for battery applications — an emerging and highly attractive end-market”
He noted that the arrangement provides a faster and more defined route to qualifying HiPurA® for battery applications, which are increasingly viewed as a high-value growth segment for HPA. Dr Jones also highlighted the crucial involvement of C4V’s tech capabilities, pointing to its experience in cell design and ceramic coating technologies as a major advantage in preparing HiPurA® for commercial deployment.
Dr Jones believes that the collaboration not only enhances the tech credibility of Alluminous’ in North America but also has the potential to drive the long term value for Impact shareholders by accelerating progress towards revenue-generating production.
Under the collaboration, the two companies will work together to test and assess HiPurA® HPA across a range of battery-related uses, including separator coatings, ceramic layers, solid-state battery components and electrode interface materials. C4V will conduct full cell testing designed to mirror the qualification standards applied by major global battery manufacturers. This is expected to minimise the time usually needed to move from pilot-scale output to a commercially validated product.
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The partnership is non-exclusive which does not bind Alluminous with any offtake commitments, thus allowing the company to engage with other potential customers and partners, as its HPA programme moves forward
The agreement does not include any binding offtake commitments and is non-exclusive, allowing Alluminous to continue engaging with other potential customers and partners as development work progresses.
Strategic implications
From Impact’s perspective, the collaboration delivers several strategic advantages.
One of the most immediate benefits is the independent validation of HiPurA® performance through C4V’s testing infrastructure. This is expected to compress development timelines and support faster commercial qualification, a key milestone in Impact’s downstream HPA strategy.
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The agreement also opens potential pathways into rapidly expanding battery manufacturing markets. Battery ceramics, separator coatings and solid-state components are emerging as important non-sapphire applications for HPA, particularly in North America and Europe as governments and manufacturers push to localise battery production. Through its relationship with C4V, Alluminous gains potential exposure to gigafactory networks in the U.S., India and Europe, as well as increased visibility with major battery OEMs and U.S. supply-chain programmes focused on securing high-purity materials.
In addition, the collaboration complements Impact’s Lake Hope development plans by broadening the range of potential end markets for future feedstock, strengthening downstream product capability and supporting earlier revenue opportunities from HPA production. Integration opportunities between Lake Hope and the HiPurA® process continue to be assessed, including test work currently underway with Edith Cowan University as part of the CRC-P grant programme. Further updates are expected as this work progresses.
C4V’s established presence in the United States also supports Alluminous’ longer-term commercialisation ambitions in that market. This includes evaluating the feasibility of a U.S.-based HiPurA® demonstration plant, building relationships with cell manufacturers and ceramics suppliers, and exploring access to U.S. government funding initiatives aimed at supporting domestic battery material supply chains.
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What comes next
The next phase of work will see Alluminous prepare initial batches of HiPurA® HPA samples for delivery to C4V from its Perth pilot plant, which is now capable of operating in batch mode. Further optimisation is planned over the coming quarter as the facility moves towards continuous operation, with testing data from C4V incorporated as it becomes available.
Based on the results of this testing programme, Alluminous will assess the potential case for establishing a demonstration facility in the United States. At the same time, Impact Minerals will continue progressing the Lake Hope project while examining integration pathways with the HiPurA® process as part of its long-term HPA growth strategy.
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