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Advancements in the processing of high-purity alumina to aid market growth
Lithium-ion batteries and synthetic sapphire are two major consumers of high-purity alumina. Batteries need solid pucks with a purity of 99.99% (4N, or about 100g of contaminants per tonne of product), while sapphire producers need solid pucks with a purity of 99.999% (5N), or about 10g of impurities per tonne. Higher purities, such as 99.999% and 99.9999% (6N), are presumably needed for the next generation of batteries and sapphire.
The HPA is used in batteries to coat the separator between the anode and cathode to increase its thermal capacity, lowering the risk of thermal runaway and the well-publicized but infrequent burns in electric vehicles and mobile phones. Additionally, there is a study towards coating the anode and cathode with HPA to increase battery stability, use less cobalt in the chemistry, and lessen capacity losses frequently experienced during the initial charge-discharge cycle. Growing uses of High Purity Alumina is another factor driving the High Purity Alumina market revenue growth.
Companies in the market are launching technologies for improving high-purity alumina processing. For instance, ChemX Materials Ltd is a company that has introduced the HiPurA high purity alumina (HPA) processing technology. The company has an initial facility located in Perth, Western Australia. It uses a tried-and-true, cutting-edge technology to produce >99.99% (4N) HPA for the lithium battery and synthetic sapphire markets. For immediate development, the HiPurA HPA technology is the main priority. Compared to current or proposed production technologies, the method has many advantages. It offers the chance to create HPA with various qualities and properties.
The process can also produce Boehmite and battery cathode precursor-grade aluminum salts in addition to HPA. A highly desirable chemical product that is one of the primary by-products of the HiPurA process is used in numerous industries, such as agriculture and chemical manufacturing, which further reduces the process' "waste." Such developments and advantages of advanced methods are anticipated to fuel the high-purity alumina market CAGR in the coming years.
July 2022 Volkswagen announced that it has invested $20.3 billion towards building a plant for manufacturing EV batteries by 2030. These trends are anticipated to support market demand for HPA in the middle term.
by 2024, -With great excitement, SiAT, a top producer of cutting-edge nanomaterials for batteries in Taiwan, announces a strategic alliance with Taiwan C.S. Aluminum Corporation (CSAC). Through this partnership, aluminum foil coated with carbon nanotubes will be available, catering to the increasing need for lithium-ion, sodium, and supercapacitor batteries to have longer lifespans and faster charging times. The carbon coating in the novel product is made of carbon nanotubes (CNTs), which are recognized for having conductivity ten times higher than that of carbon black.
Longer battery life is the result of this CNT coating's dual actions of strengthening the link between the electrode materials and the current collector and shielding the aluminum foil from corrosion.
With recently established manufacturing capabilities at its Ehime Works, Sumitomo Chemical has achieved groundbreaking success in 2023 in pioneering production technique for ultra-fine α-alumina. The company plans to start mass production of this product in September. Through technological advancements in inorganic materials, the company will work with its clients to open up new markets in the ICT, energy-saving, and life science sectors.
The demand for high purity alumina is poised to expand significantly, driven by its critical applications in advanced technologies such as LEDs and lithium-ion batteries, which are increasingly integral to the global transition towards sustainable energy solutions.
U.S. Geological Survey (USGS)