Manufacturing Today Issue - 236 May 2025 | Page 67

_____________________________________________________________________________________________________________ 6K
Inc

In the realm of chemistry, 6K Inc( 6K) is pushing boundaries by developing engineered materials for revolutionary products. These will advance industries including additive manufacturing, renewable energy, aerospace, consumer electronics, and more. Leveraging advanced microwave plasma technology and sustainable processes, the company empowers its clients to bring their innovations to life at unprecedented speeds. Sam Trinch, President of 6K Energy, the division manufacturing lithium-ion battery material for energy storage, mobility and electric vehicles, provides a technical overview of 6K’ s main technology.

“ At the core of our technology, developed at the MIT Plasma Science and Fusion Center, is our utilization of microwave-based plasma. We use an off-the-shelf microwave generator to generate a highly efficient standing wave on top of our proprietary UniMelt ® reactor, a structure measuring four feet in diameter and standing at 15 feet tall, manufactured in America. Into this, we then insert gas and a proprietary torch, which is a specialized metal rod combined with gas and microwave energy. This process results in the formation of a plasma ball, typically four-to-five inches in diameter and reaching a temperature of 6000 ° Kelvin, hence our company name, 6K. Given that this temperature is the same as that of the sun and unsuitable for practical use, our scientists have invented a method to change the temperature of the ball by introducing gas flows. This adjustment facilitates the creation of a large, homogenous production zone within the gas environment. Furthermore, we have precise control over the temperature in this homogenous production zone, allowing the production of battery material that would otherwise burn,” he begins.
For battery material, this process is used to synthesize chemical elements and control particle size and microstructure to produce advanced battery material at a fraction of the
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