What are Silicon-Based Anodes? Silicon-based anodes are a rapidly advancing alternative to traditional graphite anodes in lithium-ion batteries. Silicon offers a significantly higher theoretical capacity—up to 10x more than graphite—but it requires ultra-fine, highly uniform powders to overcome its tendency to swell, crack, and degrade during battery cycling. Precise particle sizing and purity are critical to unlocking silicon’s full potential in EVs, consumer electronics, and energy storage.
Why is Sieving Important for Silicon Anode Powders? Controlling particle size in silicon-based anodes is essential for minimizing volume expansion and improving cycle stability. Irregular or oversized particles can cause electrical breakdown, poor conductivity, and mechanical failure during charge/discharge cycles. Particle sizes often need to be controlled below 10 microns, and the powder must be completely free of ferrous contaminants to prevent short circuits and safety hazards. Conventional screening equipment is not suitable for this level of precision, especially with silicon’s tendency to agglomerate and blind screens.
Elcan Industries has experience screening high-purity, high-performance battery powders like silicon for advanced anode production. Our Hi-Sifter high-energy screening system delivers the vertical energy required to deagglomerate silicon powders and achieve consistent particle size cuts down to 10 microns, without screen blinding. For even finer requirements or when sub-10 micron sizing is critical, our Elbow Jet Air Classifier offers a screenless solution capable of classifying down to 1 micron. We also use our CG Electromagnetic Separator, rated Class II Div II & UL Listed, to remove trace levels of ferrous contamination—ensuring high-purity powder suitable for demanding battery manufacturing standards. Clients can conduct pilot-scale trials or scale up to full toll production at our NY facility.
