Page 62 - Policy Commission - SecuringTechnology - Critical Metals for Britain

62 PRIMARY MATERIALS
SUPPLY AND VALUE CHAIN FOR BATTERY MATERIALS
Figure 38 provides a simplified view of the process steps from raw materials to recycled product The takeaway message is that there are a a a a large number of complex refining and processing stages before the battery
cell is made MINING AND PHYSICAL SEPARATION
CHEMICAL PURIFICATION
CONTINUOUS STIR TANK REACTOR
FILTERED / / WASH / / DRY MILLING
MIX WITH LITHIUM CARBONATE SINTERING KILN
MIXING
EXTRUSION
BAKING AND IMPREGNATION
GRAPHITISING MIXING
MIXING
COATING DRYING
CALENDERING
CATHODE FILM CUTTING/SITTING
CELL STACKING/WINDING TAB WELDING
PACKAGING ELECTROLYTE FILLING/SEALING
FORMATION/AGEING
END OF LINE TESTING CELL CELL ARRANGEMENT/STACKING CELL TAPS – BUSBAR WELDING
EE UNIT / LV SYSTEM MODULE HOUSING
MODULE MODULE INSERTION
BUSBAR ASSEMBLY THERMAL MANAGEMENT ASSEMBLY BMS/EDS CONNECTION TOP COVER ASSEMBLY BATTERY PACK DISASSEMBLY OF BATTERY MATERIAL EXTRACTION AND SORTING
ELECTROLYTE MIXING
ANODE FILM REPROCESSING OF BATTERY MATERIALS
RECYCLED MATERIALS
Figure 38: Battery value chain courtesy of APC NEEDLE COKE
GRINDING
NAT GRAPHITE
ACTIVE MATERIAL (SYNTHETIC GRAPHITE)
TABS
CO ORE NI ORE MN ORE CO SULPHATE NI SULPHATE MN SULPHATE CATHODE ACTIVE MATERIAL COATED SEPARATOR
COAL TAR PITCH
BUSBARS
LITHIUM CARBONATE / HYDROXIDE
ELECTROLYTE SOLUTION
SILICON
COPPER FOIL
BMS SYSTEM REFINING
SOLVENTS ADDITIVES BINDERS
ANODE MODULE CASE AND CONNECTORS
(NMC811)
SOFT PACK FILM OR COATED METAL SHELLS
ALUMINIUM FOIL
E/E COMPONENTS
ELECTROLYTE SOLVENTS ELECTROLYTE SALTS
THERMAL HOUSING
THERMAL MANAGEMENT SYSTEM PACK CASE