Leading Edge Materials Reports Spheronising Test Results from Woxna Graphite Project, Sweden

VANCOUVER, BC, August 22, 2018 /CNW/ - Leading Edge Materials Corp. (“Leading Edge Materials”) or (“the “Company”) (TSXV:LEM) (Nasdaq First North: LEMSE) (OTCQB: LEMIF) is pleased to provide the latest results from spheronisation test work undertaken on graphite from the Woxna graphite mine in Sweden. Woxna is a fully constructed mine, with all processing, waste management and infrastructure in place. During 2017, Woxna was granted an extension to its operating license until 2041.

As previously disclosed (5th July 2018), Leading Edge Materials is undertaking various research and development activities designed to support the design and installation of a battery materials demonstration plant at the Woxna mine site. The demonstration plant will have the capacity to supply meaningful (100’s of kgs) quantities of lithium ion battery anode material to prospective industrial customers.

As part of this research and to enable robust equipment selection, the Company is undertaking comparative spheronisation programs at a variety of facilities. This current test program follows on from preliminary testing carried out in 2017 and delivers an insight into repeatability of equipment and operator. Equipment performance data is used to facilitate selection of equipment that can provide the range of shape and particle size distributions being requested by prospective customers. An ability to customize anode products based on particle size distribution and purity will allow Leading Edge Materials to meet a wide range of customers specifications.

Spheronisation (also known as spheroidisation) is a milling and shaping process that reduces the size of graphite flakes while shaping the flakes in an elongate spheroid. Target size range is dependent on the end use of the battery, typically varying from 8 to 30 microns. Spheronisation is undertaken to optimize the particle surface area to achieve the highest performance in the anode.

The current work program was carried out at an independent facility, with the Woxna general manager, Peter Young, on site as an observer during testing. Feed material was “run of mine” from the Woxna beneficiation plant with a grade of approximately 94% carbon and a particle size D50 of 285 micron, a near optimal size as feed for spheronisation.

The desired particle size distribution was achieved with a D50 of 25.5 micron. The particle shaping showed smooth, spherical particles (Figure 1) that were consistent and comparable with prior spheronisation results, providing confidence that similar results can be achieved within a demonstration plant installed on the Woxna site. Characterization was performed using Particle size analysis (PSA), Brunauer-Emmett-Teller (BET) surface area measurements and Scanning Electron Microscopy (SEM).  

Blair Way, President and CEO, stated “The spheronisation test program we have underway is delivering the data required for equipment selection for the Woxna battery material demonstration plant. Repeatably producing a high quality well shaped graphite product is an important step and provides confidence that similar equipment on the Woxna site will deliver market-ready lithium ion battery anode materials”.

On behalf of the Board,

"Blair Way"
Blair Way, President & CEO

Qualified Person

The qualified person for the Company’s project, Mr. Blair Way B.S. (Geology) M.B.A., a Fellow of the Australasian Institute of Mining and Metallurgy, the Company’s President and CEO, has reviewed and verified the contents of this document.

Additional Information

Leading Edge Materials is listed on the TSXV under the symbol “LEM” and Nasdaq First North Stockholm under the symbol " LEMSE". Mangold Fondkommission AB is the Company’s Certified Adviser on Nasdaq First North.

Neither the TSX Venture Exchange nor its Regulation Services Provider (as that term is defined in the policies of the TSX Venture Exchange) accept responsibility for the adequacy or accuracy of this news release.

Forward-Looking Information. This news release may contain forward-looking statements and information based on current expectations. These statements should not be read as guarantees of future performance or results. Such statements involve known and unknown risks, uncertainties and other factors that may cause actual results, performance or achievements to be materially different from those implied by such statements. Such statements include but are not limited to, unexpected geological conditions; the Company’s expectations regarding exploration activities to advance critical material projects for energy storage markets, delays in obtaining or failure to obtain necessary permits and approvals from government authorities. Although such statements are based on management’s reasonable assumptions, there are risk factors which could cause the Company’s actual results, performance or achievements to be materially different from any future results, performance or achievements expressed or implied by the forward-looking information contained herein. All forward-looking information herein is qualified in its entirety by this cautionary statement, and the Company disclaims any obligation to revise or update any such forward-looking information or to publicly announce the result of any revisions to any of the forward-looking information contained herein to reflect future results, events or developments, except as required by law. 

For further information, contact: 1.604.685.9316 or info@leadingedgematerials.com

www.leadingedgematerials.com

About Leading Edge Materials

Leading Edge Materials is a Canadian public company focused on production of high value critical raw materials for the European market, with an operating base in the Nordic region, a region well recognized for its promotion and investment in innovation. LEM’s flagship asset is the Woxna Graphite production facility located in central Sweden targeting the supply of specialty materials for lithium ion battery production. LEM’s assets and research focus are towards the raw materials for Li-ion batteries (graphite, lithium, cobalt); materials for high thermal efficiency building products (graphite, silica, nepheline); and materials that improve the efficiency of energy generation (dysprosium, neodymium, hafnium). Investments are linked to the global shift to low-carbon energy generation and energy storage. Leading Edge Materials currently operate in four divisions, Graphite, Lithium, Rare Earth and Cobalt.   Mangold Fondkommission AB is the company’s Certified Adviser (“CA”) as part of the listing requirements for Nasdaq First North.