FormulaBT™
FormulaBT™ is battery grade graphite (graphitic and carbon powders) specifically developed by Superior Graphite, and are primarily used in the energy conversion marketplace. Combined with a variety of purification, milling and/or surface treatment techniques and processes, FormulaBT™ provides the market with high purity, superior quality, and high performance products.
FormulaBT™ products are used in a variety of energy and thermal management applications such as: graphite in batteries (Advanced Lead-acid/Lead-carbon Batteries, Li-ion Batteries, Alkaline Batteries), Fuel Cells, and Thermal Management.
Battery Grade Graphite for Advanced Lead-Acid Batteries
Advanced Lead-acid (Lead-carbon) Batteries - FormulaBT™ products, made with high purity natural graphite or expanded graphite, provide a variety of benefits in the production and performance of Lead-carbon batteries.
Benefits include:
Significant Cycle Life Improvement
Significant reduction in growth of large lead sulfate crystals on the negative electrode surface, and promotion of the uniform formation of lead sulfate throughout the negative electrode under high-rate partial-state-of-charge (HRPSoC) conditions.
Capacity Improvement
Enhancement of high-rate capability and the charge efficiency of the negative plates through providing excellent electrical conductivity.
Chemical Stability
No chemical interference with other electrode components.
Fig. 01
SEM of Expanded Graphite
Fig. 02
Number of HRPSoC Micro Cycles Completed to 80% Nominal Capacity or Termination
Li-ion Batteries
FormulaBT™ as a conductive additive for positive & negative electrodes:
High Purity
High consistent carbon content (>99.9%) with low moisture content, and extremely low impurities, that could initiate unwanted side reactions.
High Crystallinity
Near 100% crystallinity leads to higher conductivity, thermal purification heals the surface and crystalline imperfections.
Low Surface Area
Thermal purification reduces the surface area compared to other processes and helps reducing chance of potentially disastrous electrochemical side reactions.
Thermally Purified
Thermal purification is more efficient in accessing and purifying the impurities entrapped in graphite that are not easily accessible to chemical purification, for instance.
Safety
Studies suggest that flaky morphology of micron size graphite additives have less of health risk compared to fibrous conductive additives.
Fig. 03
Contribution of various conductivity enhancers to the resistivity of LiFePO4 blends
Alkaline Batteries
FormulaBT™ products, made with high purity natural graphite or expanded graphite, provide a variety of benefits in the production and performance of alkaline batteries.
Benefits include:
Excellent Electrical Conductivity
Provides excellent electrical and thermal conductivity at the lowest possible concentration of graphite in electrode systems.
High Lubricity
Substantially reduces tool wear in the manufacturing process of the cathode rings.
Compressibility for High Mechanical Strength
Provides outstanding mechanical stability and integrity in the compressed electrodes.
Chemical Stability
No chemical interference with active materials in the electrode mix, or with electrolytes.
Fig. 05
SEM of Purified Flake
Fig. 06
Electrical Resistivity of MnO2/Graphite Mix as a Function of the Graphite Content
Fuel Cells
FormulaBT™ products, made with high purity natural graphite, provide a variety of benefits in the production and performance of fuel cells.
Benefits Include:
- Excellent electrical conductivity
- High thermal conductivity
- High purity (>= 99.90% LOI)
- High crystallinity (~100% crystallinity)
- High compatibility with binders
- Low corrosion
Fig. 07
Diagram of parts and functionality of a Fuel Cell
Thermal Management
FormulaBT™ products, made with high purity natural graphite or expanded graphite, provide a variety of benefits in the production and performance of thermal management foils/sheets.
Benefits include:
- Excellent thermal conductivity
- Low density powders
- High purity (>= 99.90% LOI)
- High crystallinity (~100% crystallinity)
- Easy processing of compound
