Impact Minerals Clears First Battery Milestone as HPA Hits Coating Specs
Impact Minerals clears first battery milestone as Alluminous HPA advances towards North American supply chains
Impact Minerals‘ 50%-owned associate Alluminous Pty Ltd has completed the first major technical milestone in its joint development programme with New York-based battery technology firm Charge CCCV LLC (C4V). Alluminous’ High Purity Alumina (HPA) was successfully engineered to battery separator coating particle-size specifications using C4V’s proprietary dry particle-engineering process, whilst retaining chemical purity throughout. The programme now progresses to battery architecture development and electrochemical validation, moving Alluminous from raw material producer towards commercial battery qualification. The development marks the first externally validated downstream application milestone for the HPA producer, as outlined in ASX releases dated 19 December 2025 and 20 February 2026.
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What the milestone actually delivered
The particle engineering phase achieved four key technical outcomes that confirm Alluminous HPA meets both chemical and physical requirements for advanced lithium-ion battery separator coatings:
- 90% of particles engineered to less than 3 microns; 10% less than 500 nanometres — passing thresholds required for separator coating applications
- Purity retained throughout the particle-engineering process, validating material quality for demanding battery applications
- Stable, sodium-free, water-based slurry successfully prepared for separator coating evaluation
- XRD analysis by C4V confirmed the HPA is of the alpha crystal form
The milestone proves the material can meet both chemical purity standards and the precise physical specifications demanded by battery manufacturers — a genuine commercial gateway rather than a laboratory curiosity.
Why particle engineering matters for battery-grade HPA
High Purity Alumina plays a critical role in lithium-ion batteries as a separator coating material. Battery separators are thin membranes that prevent short circuits whilst allowing ions to flow between electrodes during charge and discharge cycles.
Chemical purity alone is insufficient for this application. Separator coatings require tightly controlled particle size, morphology and dispersion to ensure consistent coating quality and reliable electrochemical performance. If particles are too large or unevenly distributed, coating quality suffers and battery performance becomes unpredictable.
The successful preparation of sodium-free slurries is particularly important for advanced battery chemistries. Sodium contamination can compromise battery performance and safety, making the ability to formulate clean, water-based slurries a critical specification hurdle.
This milestone demonstrates Alluminous can hit these demanding physical specifications without compromising its ultra-high chemical purity — the challenging combination that positions the product in a high-value, specification-driven niche within the battery materials market.
From validation to commercial qualification — the roadmap ahead
Completion of the particle engineering programme marks the first major technical gateway within C4V’s broader qualification process. Additional Alluminous material is being prepared for the next validation stage.
The programme will now progress through five key phases designed to validate performance in advanced lithium-ion battery systems and support future commercial qualification for North American battery manufacturers:
- Optimisation of separator coating formulations
- Manufacture of coated separator materials
- Electrochemical evaluation within lithium-ion battery cells
- Performance benchmarking against commercial separator materials
- Continued commercial engagement with C4V and potential downstream partners
David Leavy, Alluminous Managing Director
“Over the past twelve months we have progressed from commissioning the pilot plant to achieving our first externally validated downstream application milestone. I would particularly like to acknowledge Dr Nick Welham and the Alluminous technical team, whose expertise and commitment have been instrumental in producing the consistently high-quality material required for this program. While important work remains as we enter battery validation, the progress achieved to date provides strong confidence in the commercial potential of the Alluminous technology.”
Commercial collaboration deepens across the North American battery supply chain
The relationship between Alluminous and C4V is expanding beyond technical qualification into commercial engagement. Under the Collaboration Agreement announced in December 2025, C4V will act as Alluminous’ technical adviser throughout the qualification process with potential customers.
The C4V test programme was designed to closely align with qualification processes used in the lithium battery supply chain, providing a foundation for customer engagement as the project advances through battery validation. This commercial framework positions Alluminous to capitalise on strengthening government and manufacturer demand for secure North American supply chains for critical battery materials.
Dr Mike Jones, Impact Minerals Managing Director
“The relationship with C4V continues to evolve beyond technical assessment into broader commercial engagement. As governments and manufacturers seek secure North American supply chains for critical battery materials, collaborations such as this provide an important pathway to future commercial opportunities.”
| Milestone Achieved | What It Proves | Why It Matters for Investors |
|---|---|---|
| Particle size specification met (3µm / 500nm) | Physical requirements met for separator coating applications | Qualifies for commercial battery separator coating use |
| Purity retained through particle engineering | No compromise to ultra-high chemical purity standards | Preserves premium product positioning and value |
| Sodium-free water-based slurry prepared | Compatible with advanced battery chemistries | Supports progression to coating qualification phase |
| Alpha crystal form confirmed via XRD analysis | Correct crystalline structure for battery applications | Suitable for demanding electrochemical environments |
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The investment takeaway
Impact Minerals holds 50% of Alluminous, giving IPT shareholders direct exposure to this battery-materials development pathway. The successful completion of the particle engineering milestone de-risks the technical case for Alluminous HPA in advanced battery applications and opens a commercial pathway into North American battery supply chains.
The next validation phase — incorporating engineered Alluminous material into full battery cells for electrochemical testing and performance benchmarking — represents the key technical catalyst to watch as the programme advances towards commercial qualification.
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