Chemicals supplier Albemarle teams with 6K to improve battery production

Advanced materials supplier Albemarle Corp. and 6K Inc., a manufacturer of 3D printing materials, have signed a joint development agreement to explore the use of 6K’s patented UniMelt sustainable-materials production platform to develop novel lithium battery materials.

Albemarle is developing lithium materials with the goal of improving battery performance, says the company, adding that the UniMelt plasma technology opens new reaction pathways for lithium innovation.

According to 6K, its platform facilitates sustainable manufacturing. If a production plant that produces conventional 16-GWh battery cathodes were converted to the UniMelt platform, for example, 6K claims the factory would reduce CO₂ emissions by 70% (the equivalent of 10 million trees per year), lower water consumption by 90% (6.3 million barrels per year), reduce wastewater production by 100% (7 million barrels per year), and shrink the factory’s footprint 50%.