Graphene composites: introduction and market status - Page 11

Briggs Automotive Company (BAC) has started production of the new Mono R a higher-performance, lighter and more advanced new generation of the Mono supercar. The new Mono R supercar will be distributed around the world and will be on display at a number of new global dealer partners situated in the USA, Singapore, and Germany.

The Mono R includes 44 graphene-enhanced carbon composite body panels that have been restyled to give Mono R a more aggressive stance. The BAC website states: Mono R is the first production car in the world incorporating revolutionary material graphene in its panels, contributing to a kerbweight of just 555kg. The pinnacle of cutting-edge innovation, R sets the bar for what’s possible from technology in the supercar industry.

A Washington State University (WSU) research team recently showed that used single-use masks, of the kind made ubiquitous in the pandemic, can be incorporated into a cement mixture (with the help of graphene oxide) to create stronger, more durable concrete. The team found that the mixture using mask materials was 47% stronger than commonly used cement after a month of curing.

These waste masks actually could be a valuable commodity if you process them properly, said Xianming Shi, professor and interim chair of the Department of Civil and Environmental Engineering and the corresponding author on the paper. I’m always looking out for waste streams, and my first reaction is ‘how do I turn that into something usable in concrete or asphalt?’

In a joint project, 2D fab is developing renewable adhesives for wood panels and packaging. The project will run from April 2022 to September 2024.

Adhesives with graphene have the potential to improve productivity and properties, which allows them to replace fossil-based adhesives. 2D fab aims to harness the potential of graphene to develop renewable adhesives for packaging, straws, and wood panels for furniture. In this project, starch and cellulose-based adhesives containing graphene will be used to develop demonstrators.

Researchers from The University of Manchester and Hubei University have integrated the electrical conductivity of graphene and the insulation of nitrocellulose to prepare a fire alarm sensor.

The graphene/nitrocellulose membrane remains electrically insulated in normal condition, but instantly turns conductive at high temperatures: Upon encountering flames, nitrocellulose decomposes rapidly as a reaction to the high temperature and induces a distinct transition in its electrical resistance, causing the transformation process of the alarm sensor from being electrically insulated to an electron conductive state.

Haydale has announced that it has been awarded funding of £186,403 by Innovate UK, the UK's innovation agency, to develop smart composite tooling for the aerospace industry using functionalized nanomaterials.

The ESENSE project (Out-of-autoclave self-heated tooling enabling temperature homogeneity and embedded graphene sensors) aims to enhance out-of-autoclave (OOA) manufacturing processes with monitoring and through-life sensing capabilities using Haydale's patented HDPlas functionalization process to develop high temperature inks and pressure sensors. The project is due to start in April 2022 and is expected to run for 24 months.

Korea Electric Power Corp. (KEPCO) has reportedly launched an R&D project to develop a graphene-metal composite material for mass production of ultralight and large-capacity power lines.

For the project, KEPCO has teamed up with Samhwan TF, Sono International and the Korea Advanced Institute of Science and Technology (KAIST).

Building on the Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) signed with Viritech in September 2021, Haydale, has announced the next phase with the cleantech engineering company to develop nano-enhanced epoxy resins for hydrogen storage vessels.

The £97,750 Storage of Hydrogen and Nanomaterial Enhancement ('SHYNE') project will run for an initial period of seven months, starting in March.

Specialty chemical company, MITO Material Solutions, raised $4.6 million dollars in a funding round that closed in late January. Funding came from a seed extension by existing and new MITO investors such as specialty chemicals solutions provider, Ingevity Corporation, and will be used to expand MITO’s Indianapolis operations, including new lab space for developing industry leading products and new composite material technologies.

MITO’s portfolio of advanced polymer additives includes a proprietary graphene-functionalization technique that creates E-GO, a hybrid polymer modifier currently in production and reportedly in use in several industries. MITO states that its additives enhance fiber-reinforced composites and thermoplastics beyond standard performance metrics and are engineered to integrate into existing production lines at an extremely low concentration with proven compatibility in a variety of material combinations.

Haydale has announced that it has been awarded funding of £168,573 (around USD$226,250) to develop high barrier monolayer films for food packaging by Innovate UK, the UK's innovation agency.

Haydale Composite Solutions Ltd ('HCS'), will lead the consortium of nine companies - BASF, Bangor University, Cambridge Nanomaterials Technologies, Dunbia, Fre-Energy, Parkside Flexibles, Recycling Technologies, and Wells Plastics - to develop the next generation of high barrier films for food packaging using functionalized nanomaterials ("HiBarFilm2 Project"). The HiBarFilm2 Project is due to start in March 2022 and is expected to run for 30 months. It follows the success of the HiBarFilm feasibility study where functionalized nanomaterials were shown to influence barrier performance in films.

Versarien has announced a collaboration with US-based Flux Footwear to supply graphene-enhanced elastomers for an improved model of Flux’s ‘Adapt’ shoe. The elastomers are to be used in an improved model of flux's 'Adapt' model.

The elastomer technology has been developed by Versarien’s in-house technology teams at the University of Manchester and University of Cambridge as part of the GSCALE project and has the potential for multiple elastomer applications.