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[phoenixs] 20/4/2017 13:14

just red buttoned you Shavian, so you no longer have to be put through the ordeal of a thrashing.

[shavian] 20/4/2017 12:50

I have not been 'red buttoned' and am feeling left out. A sound thrashing and off to bed with no supper would seem more appropriate Vas.

Am trying to re-arrange my programme to fit in 2pm on 8 May. Will report back later

[bones] 20/4/2017 11:12

No worries at all axotyl!

PM sent.

[axotyl] 20/4/2017 10:40

Interesting idea, Bones, but Blackbushe is a bit of a detour en route to Cambridge...I'd prefer to keep east of London...

[vasilis] 20/4/2017 09:04

SG - I sincerely hope that our fellow registered subscriber responsible has now ceased their robotic 'red button' activities. As I recommended to Tim, 'play the ball and not the man'. Please let's all keep it that way.

PS : I see that 'red button' is still at it. Looking very much like detention is on the cards :-)

PPS : I'm booked in for 1400hrs. on 8 May.

[superg1] 20/4/2017 08:17

So Branson it is then as the new chair :-)

He doesn't understand graphene and has little business experience so I'd turn him down.

Hopefully Chris Fay is fully employed elsewhere.

And now we have some childish subscriber on the vote button, seriously do you think that's appropriate for an adult. Vas have you go a detention space available?

[superg1] 20/4/2017 07:59

Don't forget to register sharpish or you won't get in.

I've looked at other visits on the web around Cambridge graphene centre and they were in blocks of 12. So Imo it's likely to be a 24 limit. I don't know if funds get a different visit time, they did do on the AAC open day.

[superg1] 20/4/2017 07:55

Shavian

Yes I can see the buy and hold theory which of course no one would as the cost of graphene will drop.

It was this line that is completely bonkers.

By the time graphene demand hits industrial levels, there's a good chance methods of making it that do not require graphite are cost effective enough to render the feedstock obsolete.


What do they mean by industrial levels? Graphite could go 10 times the price there are different grades. £10,000 per tonne for graphite would have the graphite miners salivating as it's cheap to mine, junior miners would arrive in droves after graphite.

Even at such crazy prices that puts the feedstock at 1 penny per gram for graphene.

Hence the guy is a complete plonker imo

[superg1] 20/4/2017 07:46

I just looked to se what Mr Balchin may be doing and yes it looks like he has fingers in other pies.

EG

Chairman of Woodbord since Jan 16
Chairman of Bakedin limited since June 15
Founding director of Rapid powders limited since Sept 14
Tire recycling technologies limited director
Owner of Metalevel limited

MetaLevel also has a number of start-up investments of its own.

So it seems that's why he doesn't appear anywhere, probably just for board meetings and the AGM.

[shavian] 20/4/2017 07:42

I think he was talking about graphite solely in relation to graphene production. Of course graphite has and will continue to have all its other uses such as in lubricants, let alone pencils. And of course in battery tech, where graphite comprises 8 times the quantity of lithium by volume. As I pointed out in post 3607, graphite is not the only feedstock for graphene, in theory any source of carbon might do although Timbo points out that this may only be true for the bottom-up process. I read somewhere that palm oil may be a suitable source. So it is ridiculous to say that graphite will become obsolete, but you need to understand the context.

[luckyorange] 20/4/2017 07:40

Lifestyle chairman lol, CFO must have looked at the return on assets employed :-)

[superg1] 20/4/2017 07:32

I recall someone moaning about Mr Balchin being on the BOD something about Stanleco so whoever that was they will be happy.

I don't really know the guy, been on visits and open days and events but he has not been there.

[superg1] 20/4/2017 07:28

Lucky

It's mad what some say as the graphite market from one source suggest 2.7 million tonnes were used in 2015.

EG

Global consumption of graphite was pegged at 2.7 million tonnes in 2015. Sales revenue of the mineral is anticipated to increase at a CAGR of 11.1% over the forecast period (2016–2026).


The forecast for graphene is 35,000 tonnes which TBH would surprise me and be amazing if that happened in quick time.

World reserves of those that they look at are around 230 million tonnes so enough for about 70 years plus before they hunt out other reserves (there is some good graphite in the UK Btw).

35,000 tonnes if graphene ever got there is just 1.3% of the current sales in a sales market that is suggesting 8 times that for graphite alone each year.

I'm looking for a few kgs to start then a move into double figures of kgs then up from there.

So is the guy suggesting companies like Talga mining graphite are obsolete, what a complete plonker.

[luckyorange] 20/4/2017 07:25

Who knows Shavian, maybe he asked for more money, someone else threw their hat into the ring or it has all expanded beyond his expectations and he doesn't have the time to meet his commitments?

Seems a positive move to me, interesting to see where it goes from here?

[shavian] 20/4/2017 07:19

Why would he want to leave at this exciting time in the development of VRS? Nuts.

[luckyorange] 20/4/2017 07:11

Ian Balchin gone, wasn't very involved in the company in any aspect that I could see, hopefully the next Chairman will be proactive in flying the VRS flag?

[luckyorange] 20/4/2017 06:47

Thanks billbyrne some interesting stuff on there:

There have been several companies that are positioning themselves as suppliers of "pure" or high grade graphite as the source material for quality graphene.
However, with the different paths to the production of graphene (CVD for example) and continuous roll production methods, are graphite miners really a serious commercial source for graphene in the future?

Here is what one Graphene Council member had to say:

"Put it this way. Would you invest money in say a kilo of a particular grade of graphene, assuming it didn't degrade?

No, you wouldn't, since the process technology across an array of production methods (as mentioned some not even using graphite) is constantly improving, causing a continuous reduction in price.

Not only that, but the relative value of graphite is orders of magnitude less than graphene, which has relatively low global demand right now. By the time graphene demand hits industrial levels, there's a good chance methods of making it that do not require graphite are cost effective enough to render the feedstock obsolete.
Basically, if graphite is the long term commercial source material for graphene, we would see graphite prices increase as global demand in graphene increased. Couple this with graphene prices constantly coming down, the ratio of graphite cost to graphene will constantly increase.
Eventually graphite will be obsolete as it just won't be able to compete with other methods of making graphene. It's same reason there is considerable research being done to produce petrochemicals from renewable feedstocks, rather than crude oil, which is finite and expensive. The difference here is that crude oil still has enormous utility and demand as a chemical used to produce hydrocarbon fuel. Graphite has relatively limited utility in comparison."

We agree with Joe.

All it takes is a minimal review of the current level of standards that apply to Graphene (there no consistently applied or agreed terms or measures of quality, characteristics or quantities at this time), and you realize that anyone trying to play in this unregulated market is buying in the blind.

One of the reasons that The Graphene Council has joined in the globally recognized ISO / ANSI / IEC standards organizations is to help define peer reviewed and agreed standard nomenclature, measurements and definitions of characteristics to help bring transparency for all stakeholders; buyers, developers, researchers, producers of graphene and investors.

[petewy] 19/4/2017 22:22

Talga Resources (Haydale collaboration partner),

[billbyrne] 19/4/2017 22:22

Standards are being worked on, the website below gives some information.

[rogerbridge] 19/4/2017 22:07

Good podcast, I am pleased that they have seperated Teir 1, 2 and 3 targets.

[festario] 19/4/2017 21:32

Bones, no... I've picked up 100k shares since that date. Similar price though, sadly.

[bones] 19/4/2017 21:07

Festario, I guess I meant "fair-sized" in the context of my observation :)One of those mentioned purchases being yours?As you say, hopeful of this being regarded as a bargain in future hindsight!