HIGH PURITY ALUMINA (HPA)

THE BASICS

HPA possesses properties such as corrosion and scratch resistance, high brightness, and an ability to withstand high temperatures, giving it a growing list of new uses in lithium-ion batteries, smartphones, lighting, electric vehicles, solar panels, and medical technology.

It is the critical ingredient required for the production of synthetic sapphire, which is used in the manufacturing of LED lights and scratch-resistant glass used for smartphone screens. There is no substitute for HPA in the manufacture of synthetic sapphire, and these new products are driving global demand.

HPA also plays a critical role in the future of the portable electronics and electric vehicles because it is increasingly being used as a high-performance insulator in lithium-ion batteries to separate the positive and negative components of the battery and prevent short-circuiting.

What makes HPA so special?

HPA possesses properties such as corrosion and scratch resistance, high brightness, and an ability to withstand high temperatures, giving it a growing list of new uses in lithium-ion batteries, smartphones, lighting, electric vehicles, solar panels, and medical technology.

It is the critical ingredient required for the production of synthetic sapphire, which is used in the manufacturing of LED lights and scratch-resistant glass used for smartphone screens. There is no substitute for HPA in the manufacture of synthetic sapphire, and these new products are driving global demand.

HPA also plays a critical role in the future of the portable electronics and electric vehicles because it is increasingly being used as a high-performance insulator in lithium-ion batteries to separate the positive and negative components of the battery and prevent short-circuiting.

PRODUCING HPA

The most common and traditional method for producing HPA is by converting a highly refined material such as aluminium. The problem with this approach is that it requires a lot of energy and is therefore very expensive.

This has created opportunities for disruption.

HPA and Kaolin

Several new technologies are now producing HPA from kaolin clay, which is a relatively abundant, low cost and environmentally friendly feedstock. These processes are simpler, less expensive, less energy intensive, and produce a higher quality HPA product. Production costs are low as the kaolin has been naturally refined and purified by millions of years of natural weathering.

INVESTMENT PERSPECTIVE

The rising demand for HPA is being driven by several factors, in particular the global adoption of LED lighting, smart technology and the growing electric vehicle market, which is being underpinned by both consumers and government regulation.

With demand for high quality HPA outstripping supply substantially higher prices are being paid for the purest HPA, which is measured by the concentration of trace elements such as iron, manganese and sodium in the alumina compound. This is a highly important consideration for EV batteries, as HPA purity is critical to prevent battery ageing.

Why iTech Minerals?

iTech Minerals has several projects in South Australia that have the potential to contain significant resources of high purity kaolin. With thanks to new disruptive technologies, Kaolin to HPA processing technologies are achieving much sort after 99.99% purity.

iTech has several economic advantages to developing a HPA production facility in South Australia.

  • A local source of high purity kaolin as feedstock

  • Close to industrial centres at Whyalla and Pt Pirie, with technological and skilled workforce and port facilities

  • Close to critical infrastructure such as power, water and transport

  • Close to the largest markets in the Asia Pacific region

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