Graphene composites: introduction and market status - Page 33

The following is a sponsored post by Haydale

Haydale Composite Solutions are pleased to announce the production of graphene-enhanced electrically-conductive carbon fibre-reinforced composite materials with improved resistance to damage from a severe lightning-strike event.

Carbon fibre-reinforced composite materials, as used in many aerospace structures and components, are vulnerable to damage from lightning strikes. However, the addition of functionalised nano materials to the epoxy resin through the use of Haydale’s patented plasma functionalisation process, HDPlas, has been demonstrated to significantly improve the electrical conductivity of the epoxy resin which allows the laminate to dissipate the energy of the lightning strike throughout the structure thereby reducing the localised heating which causes damage in a lightning-strike event. Importantly, these improvements have been achieved without any major issues with existing manufacturing processes.

Applied Graphene Materials, in a recent update, said it made "significant progress" in all of its core markets of composites, coatings, oils and lubricants. Among the reported highlights of its work is its graphene-enhanced epoxy prepreg system MTC9800 to be shown at the JEC World exhibition later this month, after a year and half collaboration with SHD Composites.

In addition, the company has recently completed the first phase of a development project investigating the application of its graphene for resin infused Aerospace structures. During 2016 it continued work on its development program with Airbus Defence and Space, a division of Airbus Group SE, although details of this work are still subject to a non-disclosure agreement.

Graphene 3D Lab, a leader in the development, manufacturing and marketing of proprietary composites and coatings based on graphene and other advanced materials, has announced an addition to its G6-Epoxy line of adhesives. This new product, G6E-GSTMepoxy, is a highly electrically conductive adhesive based on the combination of graphene and silver additives. It reportedly has a volume resistivity as low as 0.0001 Ω·cm and can be cured at room temperature or more rapidly at elevated temperatures. G6E-GSTM bonds well to a wide variety of substrates including metals, composites, ceramics, and glass.

The graphene filler is said to enhance the electrical conductivity of the epoxy and prevent the propagation of cracks, improving the material’s durability and fatigue resistance. This is especially important when bonding dissimilar materials subjected to rapid temperature variations. This feature improves impact resistance of the bond and also helps mitigate potential damage caused by vibration.

Future Markets has released a new report titled The Graphene and 2-D Materials Global Opportunity and Market Forecast 2017-2027 Report, that predicts that the graphene market will reach $250 million in revenues in 2017.

According to Future Markets, revenues for graphene at the materials supply level will be less than $75 million. However, a growing number of products that make use of graphene and 2D materials across a range of markets (smartphones, supercapacitors, coatings, composites, smart textiles and conductive inks) will be generating revenues of over $175 million, at the component level, in 2017. The market for graphene continues to expand, with new product launches, multi-million dollar funding for companies and start-ups and new government initiatives worldwide.

McLaren, the British racing team/supercar manufacturer, has announced the new RM 50-03 Tourbillon Split Seconds Chronograph Ultralight McLaren F1. The watch's mechanism weighs only 7 grams and the entire watch just 40, with the help of a graphene, titanium and carbon fiber composite.

It was reported that McLaren's Applied Technologies division has been working with the National Graphene Institute on applications for graphene, out of which high-end watchmaker Richard Mille (working in collaboration with McLaren), constructed the three-part case, with the titanium and carbon-fiber movement at its center.

Wuxi JCNO Materials, a company located in the Wuxi Graphene Industry Zone in China, has created a graphene-based electrostatic speaker. The speakers are reportedly constructed using graphene resin composite materials, able to produce medium and low bass sounds that conventional metal resin compounds cannot reach. The graphene speaker is also said to be simpler, longer-lasting and cheaper to produce than traditional technology.

Electrostatic speakers sound by vibrating the diaphragm before and after with the action of electrostatic force. It can capture the extremely small changes in the music signal to fully show the nuances of the music. This kind of speaker has already been used in applications like cars, theaters and exhibitions.

Versarien announced an agreement with Fern Plastic Products to manufacture injection moulded products using graphene-enhanced polyaryletherketone (PAEK) materials. The agreement with Fern Plastics follows the agreement with Scafell Organics announced earlier this month.

The plan is for Versarien to utilize Fern Plastics' manufacturing facilities and expertise to produce injection moulded products using graphene-enhanced PAEK materials produced through Versarien's collaboration with Scafell.

Versarien, the advanced materials group, has signed an agreement with polymer chemical producer Scafell Organics to develop graphene-enhanced polyaryletherketone materials (PAEKs). These materials are a family of semi-crystalline thermoplastics with high-temperature stability and high mechanical strength, used in the automotive and aerospace industries.

Versarien reportedly plans to utilize Scafell’s facilities and production expertise to produce graphene enhanced PAEK materials using Versarien supplied graphene nano platelets. It is hoped that these graphene enhanced materials will be available for sale by Versarien through its sales team as well as Scafell’s customers.

CalBattery, the U.S-based developer of a Silicon-Graphene (SiGr) composite anode material for li-ion batteries, recently announced that it has successfully scaled-up its new fluidized bed chemical vapor deposition process and is producing commercial quality and quantities of its breakthrough high capacity silicon composite anode material for use in li-ion batteries.

Over the past 5 years CalBattery’s team has worked with over thirty engineering groups to develop, build, and optimize a new type of fluidized bed chemical vapor deposition reactor capable of producing novel industry leading silicon composite lithium battery anode materials that can be specially engineered to incorporate between 10% -50% silicon with limited swelling and good cycle life compared to other LIB silicon anode materials used today.

Reports out of China state that graphene-based road lighting fixtures are being installed in 28 streets in Beijing, which are said to be up to 30% more energy efficient than current fixtures. These graphene lamps can reportedly reach 140 lumens per watt, which means the new lamps can be much brighter than currently used ones, that produce 110 lumens per watt.

The fixtures' exteriors are made of black and grey composite materials and most of the heat-conducting adhesives and chips inside are said to be produced with graphene. The Chinese official PR mentioned a company called MS Technology but its exact role is not clear. It is said to be "a company focusing on heat dispersing materials research and the firm that first invented graphene lamps that were put into mass production".