Orion steps in with Printex Kappa 10, a conductive additive for EV batteries

HOUSTON—Orion S.A., parent group to Orion Engineered Carbons, has launched Printex Kappa 10—a conductive additive intended to serve the growing lithium-ion battery industry.

Lithium-ion batteries are expected to be one of the foundational power plants moving forward in the electric vehicle, storage system and consumer application industries.

According to Orion, Printex Kappa 10 is more efficient in its transfer of electrical energy than other carbon black grades, enhancing performance during both charging and discharging.

"At Orion, we're focused on products enabling more efficient and powerful lithium-ion batteries that help to decarbonize mobility," said Orion CEO Corning Painter. "Printex Kappa 10 is a key part of our strategy for expanding our business for such conductive additives."

Painter said Orion's strength is in its "dedication to innovation and delivering sustainable solutions for customers."

"As the world increasingly turns toward electric mobility, the demand for high-quality conductive additives ... will grow," he said.

Printex Kappa 10 is made in Europe using a furnace black method, and it marks a "crucial expansion" of Orion's portfolio of conductive additives.

The company also produces other "kappa" grades using an acetylene cracking process.

Specifically, Printex Kappa 10 works for both anodic and cathodic applications, and in concert with lithium-ferrous-phosphate, nickel-manganese-cobalt and other battery systems.

Orion has four innovation centers and produces carbon black at 15 plants worldwide.

Orion is one of the largest producers of carbon black in the EU, and maintains the world's longest-running carbon black plant, located in Germany.