Northern Graphite (TSXV: NGC) announced that testing carried out in Germany by ProGraphite concluded that concentrates at the company’s Bissett Creek deposit in Ontario are well suited for the spheronization process with an above-average yield, narrow particle size distribution and relatively high tap density.

Spheronization is the first step in the manufacturing of spherical graphite or SPG, the anode material used in lithium-ion batteries. It involves micronizing the graphite flakes and rolling them up like a snowball. The spherical shape improves packing density in the anode which means higher capacity batteries, it creates more sites for lithium-ion intercalation which results in better battery performance and it enables the anode material to be laid down quickly and uniformly in thin sheets during the battery manufacturing process.