COMPOSITE MATERIAL

Disclosed herein is a composite material (pyrolyzed black mass) including valuable metals, such as nickel, cobalt, manganese, lithium, aluminum, and copper, and having improved processibility and/or metal recovery in processes for recycling and/or recovery of the valuable metals. The composite material is a useful intermediate in the recycling of lithium ion batteries. Also disclosed herein is a process for producing the composite material from lithium ion batteries.