Calgary, Alberta--(Newsfile Corp. - August 18, 2026) - Volt Carbon Technologies Inc. (TSXV: VCT) (OTCQB: TORVF) ("VCT", "Volt" or "Volt Carbon") is pleased to report that it has developed a flexible downstream manufacturing process at its Guelph, Ontario facility and has produced multiple batches of graphene oxide and expandable graphite for product trials.
The process is designed to operate downstream from Volt's proprietary air classification technology. After crushed graphite ore is dry separated into a graphite concentrate, Volt's downstream process converts the concentrate into either graphene oxide or expandable graphite. Importantly, the same downstream processing equipment can be configured to produce either product, reducing the need for two separate processing lines.
Volt's objective has always been to help build a secure North American supply chain for advanced carbon materials. The Company's graphite concentrate, graphene and expandable graphite are all targeted at North American markets that have historically relied heavily on foreign supply.
Fig 1: From crushed graphite rock to concentrates, graphene and expandable graphite.
To view an enhanced version of this graphic, please visit:
https://images.newsfilecorp.com/files/9904/310207_5688098254e109b3_001full.jpg
Graphene Process Advances from Approximately Five to Three Layers
Volt has also continued to improve its graphene manufacturing process. As previously announced on October 2, 2025, Volt produced approximately five-layer reduced graphene oxide ("rGO"). When incorporated into epoxy test coupons, mechanical testing demonstrated a 40% to 60% improvement in mechanical properties compared with virgin epoxy. Since then, Volt has further optimized its process. Recent XRD characterization performed at University of Waterloo laboratories indicates approximately three graphene layers. Graphene oxide is a functionalized material that can be further processed into rGO and used as an additive in applications such as advanced composites.
Expandable Graphite: 325 mL/g
Expandable graphite is the second product that can be produced through Volt's flexible downstream process. As publicly reported by Green Battery Minerals Inc. on July 31, 2024, independent testing by ProGraphite GmbH of graphite processed using Volt's dry separation technology achieved an expansion rate of 325 mL/g and approximately 98.5% carbon after expansion. Green Battery's news release quoted ProGraphite as describing the expansion as an "excellent result" for +80 mesh material and reported that the graphite was very suitable as precursor material for expandable graphite production. Expandable graphite is used in applications including passive fire protection and thermal management and can also be processed into expanded graphite and graphite foil.
Additional Production Equipment Arrives in Guelph
As announced on May 6, 2026, Volt ordered additional equipment to support batch-scale production of graphene-based materials and expandable graphite. The equipment has now arrived at Volt's Guelph facility and is being incorporated into the Company's downstream processing capabilities. Volt intends to continue producing batches of graphene oxide and expandable graphite for process optimization, characterization, and customer evaluation.
Volt's current batch-scale graphene production can support meaningful customer trials because graphene can be evaluated at very low loading levels. In the Company's previous epoxy testing, a 0.5% loading represents approximately 5 kg per tonne of finished composite, with even lower loading levels being evaluated for applications such as carbon-fibre composites.
V-Bond Lee, CEO, commented: "The concept is simple: start with natural graphite and create multiple higher-value products. One flexible processing platform can produce either graphene oxide or expandable graphite, and we have now produced multiple batches of both. We have also advanced our graphene from approximately five layers to approximately three layers based on recent XRD characterization at University of Waterloo laboratories. We are continuing to push toward the limits of what can be achieved with natural graphite while developing practical processes that can be scaled and used by customers. There is still a lot of work ahead, but our capabilities continue to improve every day."
About Volt Carbon Technologies
Volt Carbon is a publicly traded carbon science company focused on advanced carbon materials, energy storage, and green energy technologies. The Company is developing a vertically integrated platform designed to transform natural graphite resources into high value carbon products, including graphite concentrates, graphene, battery materials, and lithium batteries. Volt Carbon holds mineral interests in Quebec and British Columbia, Canada, and operates facilities supporting both carbon material processing and battery technology development. For the latest information on the Company, its projects, and corporate developments, please visit www.voltcarbontech.com.
On behalf of the Board of Directors of Volt Carbon Technologies Inc,
V-Bond Lee, P. Eng.
CEO, President, Chairman of the Board and Director
Contacts:
Email: info@voltcarbontech.com
Tel: (519) 763-1197
Neither TSX Venture Exchange nor its Regulation Services Provider (as that term is defined in the policies of the TSX Venture Exchange) accepts responsibility for the adequacy or accuracy of this release.
FORWARD-LOOKING STATEMENTS: This press release contains forward-looking statements and future oriented financial information, concerning Volt's business and affairs. In certain cases, forward-looking statements can be identified by the use of words such as 'plans', 'expects' or 'does not expect', "intends" 'budget', 'scheduled', 'estimates', "forecasts', 'intends', "goals," "aims," 'anticipates' or variations of such words and phrases or state that certain actions, events or results 'may', 'could', 'would', 'might', "will" or 'will be taken', 'occur' or 'be achieved'.
These forward-looking statements are based on current expectations and are naturally subject to uncertainty and changes in circumstances that may cause actual results to differ materially. Forward-looking statements involve significant risks and uncertainties, should not be read as guarantees of future performance or results, and will not necessarily be accurate indications of whether or not such results will be achieved. Such statements include those with respect to: (i) the incorporation and commissioning of additional equipment at Volt's Guelph facility; (ii) the continued optimization and scale-up of the Company's graphene oxide, reduced graphene oxide and expandable graphite processes; (iii) the ability of the Company's batch-scale production to support customer trials and product evaluations; (iv) the ability to reproduce laboratory and batch-scale results at larger production scales; (v) potential customer acceptance and commercial applications for graphene-based materials and expandable graphite; and (vi) the Company's ability to integrate its proprietary dry separation technology with downstream processing to produce multiple higher-value carbon products.
All the forward-looking statements made in this press release are qualified by these cautionary statements. Readers are cautioned not to place undue reliance on such forward-looking statements. Forward-looking information is provided as of the date of this press release, and Volt assumes no obligation to update or revise them to reflect new events or circumstances, except as may be required under applicable securities legislation.
To view the source version of this press release, please visit https://www.newsfilecorp.com/release/310207
Source: Volt Carbon Technologies
