Talga Resources has signed a letter of intent (LoI) with a subsidiary of Germany-based Schunk Group to co-operate on the exploration and incorporation of Talga graphene (Talphene®) into a Schunk product with applications in the automotive sector.

The ASX-listed company said further details of the LoI and the application were commercial in confidence at this stage, but Talga has previously said Talphene could have potential as a functionalised graphene additive for lithium-ion battery cathodes, in addition to applications in packaging, concrete and composite materials.

Talga has 100% ownership of multiple high-grade graphite assets in northern Sweden, the most advanced of which (Vittangi – containing the Nunasvaara deposit) hosts the world’s highest grade JORC/NI 43-101 graphite mineral resource (12.3 Mt at 25.5% graphite), according to the company.

Talga Managing Director, Mark Thompson, said: “Talga is excited to be working with such a globally active and innovative carbon product manufacturer as Schunk on an application using Talga’s graphene. We look forward to leveraging our technology and products towards success of this program and potential development in future.”

Shunk offers a broad spectrum of products and services in the fields of carbon technology and ceramics, environmental simulation and air conditioning, sintered metal and ultrasonic welding.

Last year, Talga said it was targeting completion of a prefeasibility study on Vittangi at the end of the March quarter.