Superior Graphite

Table 6 shows the production of abrasive sihcon carbide in the United States and Canada (131). In 1988, four firms were producing cmde sihcon carbide under various trade names at six plants in the United States and Canada, The Exolon-ESK Co. General Abrasive/Dresser Co. Norton Co. and Superior Graphite Co. Most plants are located in areas where electrical power is, or at one time, was available at relatively low rates. Other considerations are availabihty of labor, reasonable air and water pollution standards, future expansion potential, and proximity of raw materials and markets. 

Sunshine Mining and Refining Company, 249 SuperGen Inc., 249 Superior Graphite Co., 249 SUPRACIDE , methidathion, 124 SUPRATHION , methidathion, 124 Surgutneftegas (OJSC), 197 Su-Vi Chemicals Ltd., 176... 

Executive Department, Superior Graphite Company 10 South Riverside Plaza, Chicago, IL 60606, USA Chemistry Department, Saratov State University 83, Astrakhanskaya, 410012 Saratov, Russia churikovav info.sgu.ru... 

Laboratory Department, Superior Graphite Company, 4201 West 36th Street, Chicago, IL 60632, USA, pzaleski graphitesgc.com... 

Expanded Graphite (grade ABG1005, Superior Graphite) 1,1 10 3... 

Purified, thermally exfoliated natural flake graphite, Superior Graphite Co. (USA)... 

Authors would like to acknowledge Superior Graphite Co., Chicago, IL, USA for manufacturing and submission of various customized graphite samples to do the development work described in the paper. We like to also acknowledge NATO Science for Peace Programme for financial support of this work in framework of Carbon SfP 973849 project. 

Figure 1. Purified expanded (a) and natural (b) graphite. (Courtesy of Superior Graphite).

Two different natural graphites manufactured by Superior Graphite Co. (SL-20 and LBG-73) were tested as received on the possibility of using as anode of a cylindrical Li-ion battery. For comparison, typical synthetic graphite KS-15 from Lonza was examined. 

Commercial and non-commercial carbons were tested for their applicability as anode of lithium-ion battery. It was found that Superior Graphite Co s materials are characterized both by high reversible capacities and low irreversible capacities and thus can be regarded as good candidates for practical full cells. Cylindrical AA-size Li-ion cells manufactured using laboratory techniques on the basis of SL-20 anode had initial capacities over 500 mAh (volumetric energy density ca. 240 Wh/dm3). Boron-doped carbon... 

The authors would like to thank Superior Graphite Co. for delivering graphite samples. Special thanks for NATO SfP Carbon 973849 project consortium members for valuable material and intellectual assistance, in particular to Prof. Francis Beguin, Prof. Elzbieta Frackowiak, Prof. Jacek Machnikowski, Prof. Andrzej Lewandowski and Prof. Vyacheslav Barsukov. 

C, and to eliminate potential battery poisons contained in graphite s ash. The sublimation of impurities is performed on an industrial scale in Superior Graphite s continuous thermal purification furnaces under inert gas. During the process of purification, the temperature, which flake is exposed to, reaches up to 2,800°C. 

Two methods were used to determine the purity of the final material. The ash content was obtained by calculation of a weight loss of 1 g size graphite sample, after its exposure to 900°C for 4 hours (Superior Graphite AIMS procedure FBQ0001). This test gives a good idea of the total amount of impurities. The nature of impurities and their specific concentrations as measured in ppm or ppb levels, was determined with an ICP inductively coupled plasma spectrometer (Model Jobin Yvon Ultima POXX/681,... 

Five years ago, we were considering that these electrochemical data were enough to define if an active material would be a good candidate for lithium-ion batteries. Based on this understanding, Superior Graphite developed its LBG grades. 

Novel design approaches to addressing these issues resulted in introduction of the SLC family of products, which is at the active stage of commercialization by Superior Graphite at the time of writing of this paper. 

SLC1015 is what Superior Graphite has developed in order to provide lithium-ion battery market with reduced surface area graphite. 

The proprietary surface treatment done on SLC1015 and other SLC grades available from Superior Graphite reduces dramatically the specific surface area of this group of carbon products. 

Performance of the surface treated purified natural graphite SLC1015 and other similar grades in Superior Graphite s SLC product family has attracted a number of lithium-ion battery manufacturers. The number of satisfied end-users is steadily growing. 

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