Triton Minerals Confirms Expandability of Mozambique Graphite

Triton Minerals Ltd. (ASX:TON) announced that initial material testing shows that its Mozambique graphite can be expanded up to 1,000 times. The testing was completed at an independent facility located in Asia on an unprocessed graphitic rock sample.

The press release explains what exactly expandable graphite is:

Not all graphite is expandable. However, if the graphite possesses the required physical properties the graphite is normally expanded by immersing the natural flake graphite concentrate, usually at a grade of 95% to 99% TGC, in a bath of chromic acid, then concentrated sulfuric acid, which forces apart the crystal lattice planes, thus expanding or increasing the flake graphite surface area from 500 to 1,000 times in size. Subject to quality the expanded graphite sells for up to US$3,500 per tonne.

The expanded graphite is used to produce flexible graphite sheets and foils which are subsequently used for manufacturing high-performance gasket material for high-temperature use, packaging and other sealing materials in critical applications of high pressure environments.

The expanded graphite can also be used to create a compound to insulate molten metal in a ladle or red-hot steel ingots and decrease heat loss, or as a fire-stop which is fitted around a fire door or in sheet metal collars surrounding plastic pipe (during a fire, the graphite expands and chars to resist fire penetration and spread).

After being made into graphite foil, the foil is machined and assembled into the bipolar plates in fuel cells. Graphite foil is also a major component of heat sinks for laptop computers which keeps them cool while saving weight. Graphite foil laminate is also used in valve packings or made into gaskets.

Brad Boyle, Triton’s managing director, said:

These are very exciting results for Triton as not all graphite can be expanded. The unique physical and thermal properties of expanded graphite enjoys a continued strong market demand and a premium price is paid by end users.

This style of graphite is readily converted into a number of graphite products, including graphite paper and graphite foil that is subsequently used in either high temperature applications or insulation for electronic devices. These results confirm the high quality nature, versatility and economic importance of TMG and Triton expects the expanded graphite will be used in many of the graphite sectors.

Click here to read the full Triton Minerals Ltd. (ASX:TON) press release.