Cathode Active Material

Our product is called cathode active material. Read more about this material, its manufacturing process, and its role as a part of the battery.

What is CAM?

Material for smart mobility and battery solutions

Cathode active material (CAM) is a powdered material needed in the production of lithium-ion battery cells, which are then used in electrification of traffic and energy storage applications. CAM is used to manufacture cathodes, the most valuable and important component of battery cells. The cathode determines many of the battery’s technical characteristics.

Battery systems of electric vehicles consist of hundreds or even thousands of individual battery cells. In Finland, we can produce cathode materials responsibly to meet the battery needs of European EV factories, for example. Our Kotka plant is expected to produce CAM for the annual needs of over 750,000 electric vehicles with the first-stage capacity.

Our product, CAM, is a powdered material.

It is needed to manufacture cathodes, the most valuable parts of a battery.

CAM’s role in batteries

Key material component for electric vehicles

Determining the vehicle’s safety, durability, and driving range

Lithium-ion battery packs consist of multiple battery cells, which, on their part, consist of four major components: cathode, anode, separator, and electrolyte liquid.

When the battery is used or when the car is in motion, lithium ions with a negative charge flow from the anode layer into the cathode layer of the battery cell, creating energy for the vehicle. When the battery is charged, the ions move in opposite direction from the cathode back to the anode.

In electric vehicles, cathode active material determines the vehicle’s safety, durability, and driving range.

As more stages of the battery value chain are carried out in Finland, the value of Finnish production and exports increases.

How do we do it?

Industrial process explained

Mixing and sintering

Raw materials of cathode active material are precursor (pCAM) and lithium hydroxide. They are mixed in our plant at predefined proportions and after that, sintered.

Sintering means taking saggards, which are loaded with pCAM + lithium hydroxide mixture, through a long oven called the kiln, which has a predefined temperature profile ranging between 600 to almost 1000°C. The mixture’s journey through the kiln takes almost 24 hours.

Material processing

The sintered material proceeds to grinding and mixing. After that, the material is washed, filtered, and sintered again. The water used in the washing process is directed to the wastewater treatment facility of our plant.

Final processing

Finally, the finished CAM is packaged, stored, and transported for our customers to use.

Battery value chain

CAM production is one phase in the long journey of a battery

The value chain of lithium-ion batteries is long and contains many stages.

Cathode active material (CAM) is made of different ingredients, such as precursor (pCAM) and lithium hydroxide. Once CAM is produced, it will be transported to battery factories. Finally, the ready batteries will be used in, for example, electric vehicles, energy storage or portable equipment. Once the battery has reached the end of its life cycle, it will be recycled.

Currently, there are several battery industry projects under development in Finland. As more stages of the chain, such as raw material mining and processing, are carried out in Finland, the value of Finnish production and exports increases.

About us

Easpring Finland

Our purpose is to produce cathode active materials for the needs of the European production facilities of Easpring’s existing and new customers.