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Zenyatta makes progress on graphite powder testing
Metal Powder Report Volume 71, Number 2 March/April 2016
PRODUCT SHOWCASE
Product Showcase Zenyatta makes progress on graphite powder testing Zenyatta Ventures Ltd says that it has made progress on its project to determine possible uses for the graphite powder produced from its mine in Albany, Canada. Experts believe that graphene could be used for a range of innovative cleantech applications, including low-cost solar cells, super computers and rapid charge batteries. However, one obstacle to its widespread use is the high manufacturing cost for highquality graphene. A lower-cost approach is to use high-purity natural graphite. The goals of the Natural Science and Engineering Research Council of Canada Collaborative Research and Development (NSERC CRD) project, run by Dr Aicheng Chen, Professor of Chemistry at Lakehead University are: to characterize the physical and chemical properties of Zenyatta’s Albany graphite, to understand its electrochemical behaviors, to modify the graphite for practical applications and to develop advanced carbon nanomaterials such as graphene from the Albany graphite.
simple reduction process. Preliminary graphene yields of approximately 98% from Zenyatta’s Albany graphite emerge from these tests.
Potential opportunities
A sample of Zenyatta’s high purity graphite powder.
Since the beginning of the project Dr. Chen and his research group report significant advances in the characterization the material graphite and the development of new materials from it for practical applications. Initial results indicate that high quality graphene oxides can be produced from Albany graphite at a laboratory scale, which can in turn be converted to graphene via a
‘From an analytical perspective, the Albany graphite meets all the stringent requirements for a high-quality product, encompassing high-purity, crystallinity, thermal stability, and high surface area,’ said Dr. Chen. ‘Interestingly, the crystallinity found in Zenyatta’s Albany graphite was greater than that of commercially available graphite samples which were also tested for comparative purposes. These initial studies indicate that there are great potential opportunities for the utilization of this product in multiple practical applications. For example, these graphite derivatives will be explored for their medical, energy and environmental technology applications.’ Zenyatta Resources; www.zenyatta.ca
Morgan launches new range of high-temperature kiln furniture and crucible materials Morgan Advanced Materials has developed a new range of high-temperature kiln furniture. The new range in MgOSpinel is suitable for use at temperatures up to 17008C (30928F) under corrosive conditions. MgO-Spinel is chemically stable making it resistant to oxidization, while its composition and microstructure allow for improved corrosion resistance, especially against alkalis and earth alkalis. Crucibles made from this material are particularly suitable for use in the
melting of light metals containing aggressive slags. The material also has high thermal conductivity of 12–14 W/mK as well as improved thermal shock properties. In addition, it offers high electrical resistivity, making it suitable for a broad range of applications.
The new range is suitable for use at temperatures up to 1700 8C under corrosive conditions.
Morgan Advanced Material; www.morganthermalceramics.com 0026-0657/http://dx.doi.org/10.1016/j.mprp.2016.02.006
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PRODUCT SHOWCASE
Product Showcase Zenyatta makes progress on graphite powder testing Zenyatta Ventures Ltd says that it has made progress on its project to determine possible uses for the graphite powder produced from its mine in Albany, Canada. Experts believe that graphene could be used for a range of innovative cleantech applications, including low-cost solar cells, super computers and rapid charge batteries. However, one obstacle to its widespread use is the high manufacturing cost for highquality graphene. A lower-cost approach is to use high-purity natural graphite. The goals of the Natural Science and Engineering Research Council of Canada Collaborative Research and Development (NSERC CRD) project, run by Dr Aicheng Chen, Professor of Chemistry at Lakehead University are: to characterize the physical and chemical properties of Zenyatta’s Albany graphite, to understand its electrochemical behaviors, to modify the graphite for practical applications and to develop advanced carbon nanomaterials such as graphene from the Albany graphite.
simple reduction process. Preliminary graphene yields of approximately 98% from Zenyatta’s Albany graphite emerge from these tests.
Potential opportunities
A sample of Zenyatta’s high purity graphite powder.
Since the beginning of the project Dr. Chen and his research group report significant advances in the characterization the material graphite and the development of new materials from it for practical applications. Initial results indicate that high quality graphene oxides can be produced from Albany graphite at a laboratory scale, which can in turn be converted to graphene via a
‘From an analytical perspective, the Albany graphite meets all the stringent requirements for a high-quality product, encompassing high-purity, crystallinity, thermal stability, and high surface area,’ said Dr. Chen. ‘Interestingly, the crystallinity found in Zenyatta’s Albany graphite was greater than that of commercially available graphite samples which were also tested for comparative purposes. These initial studies indicate that there are great potential opportunities for the utilization of this product in multiple practical applications. For example, these graphite derivatives will be explored for their medical, energy and environmental technology applications.’ Zenyatta Resources; www.zenyatta.ca
Morgan launches new range of high-temperature kiln furniture and crucible materials Morgan Advanced Materials has developed a new range of high-temperature kiln furniture. The new range in MgOSpinel is suitable for use at temperatures up to 17008C (30928F) under corrosive conditions. MgO-Spinel is chemically stable making it resistant to oxidization, while its composition and microstructure allow for improved corrosion resistance, especially against alkalis and earth alkalis. Crucibles made from this material are particularly suitable for use in the
melting of light metals containing aggressive slags. The material also has high thermal conductivity of 12–14 W/mK as well as improved thermal shock properties. In addition, it offers high electrical resistivity, making it suitable for a broad range of applications.
The new range is suitable for use at temperatures up to 1700 8C under corrosive conditions.
Morgan Advanced Material; www.morganthermalceramics.com 0026-0657/http://dx.doi.org/10.1016/j.mprp.2016.02.006
122