Graphene composites: introduction and market status - Page 44

Researchers from the University of Massachusetts in Amherst studied the way graphene absorbs kinetic energy and discovered that it might be extremely efficient in preventing bullet penetration.

The researchers constructed a miniature ballistics test, using a laser pulse to superheat gold filaments until they vaporised, acting like gunpowder to fire a micron-size glass bullet into 10-100 sheets of graphene at 3000 meters per second.

Researchers from the Korea Electrotechnology Research Institue (KERI) managed to create an innovative process of 3D printing graphene nanostructures.

The scientists announced the development of a nanoscale 3D printing approach that exploits a liquid meniscus of ink to create 3D reduced graphene oxide (rGO) nanowires, different than typical methods that use filaments or powders as printing materials.

The UK based Haydale and The School of Engineering at Cardiff University have announced the results of a new research that shows improvements in the mechanical performance of carbon fibre composites.

The research tested graphene nanoplatelet (GNP) and carbon nanotube (CNT) reinforced technology. The results of this research show a 13% increase in compression strength and a 50% increase in compression after impact performance, indicating that fracture mode has been positively influenced. This is significant because damage resistance and compression properties are extremely important in high performance structures, such as composite aircraft wings.

Indian researchers Nikhil Jana and Susanta Bhunia managed to use a graphene composite material to harness visible light and successfully degrade three different endocrine disruptor pollutants (phenol, BPA and atrazine). Endocrine disruptors are a class of pollutants that are commonplace in many household and industrial products, despite being known to mimic or block hormones in animals and humans, potentially causing various reproductive and health problems.

The researchers reached this achievement by using an existing graphene composite that uses visible light to degrade dyes, enhancing it by loading it with silver nanoparticles that act as an antenna for visible light.

Haydale recently announced the forming of an agreement to acquire EPL Composite Solutions. The two companies have already collaborated in the past on several projects and this acquisition is meant to maximize EPL’s access to the nano-composites market and potentially boost Haydale’s sales.

The acquisition of EPL is a major step towards monetizing Haydale’s technology for incorporating graphene and other nano-enhancing fillers into composites. The introduction of nanofillers to EPL’s product range will produce the added benefits of impermeable barriers, conductivity and reduced weight with improved strength and stiffness. These benefits are capable of impacting the development of future composite structures. According to market researches, an $80m market for nano-enhanced composites is predicted by 2018, of which graphene functionalization promises to generate significant parts.

Angstron Materials began to offer masterbatches of graphene-enhanced polymers. Those materials offer superior mechanical, electrical and thermal properties - above the base polymer. Angstron can provide the materials in a pellet form or as a strand for use in FDM 3D Printing.

Angstron has a team of composite scientists and engineers that can use the in-house compounding equipment and then masterbatch material to order in a timely manner. Through their industrial partners, also rapidly scale-up nanocomposite compounding to meet industrial demand.

Researchers from the Indian Institute of Science (IISc) developed a new shock absorbor made from graphene foam. The foam's load bearing capacity is very high, and when combined with PDMS it is very flexible and has an even higher load-bearing capacity - in fact six times higher than the bare graphene foam. The researchers say this can be used for mobile devices.

The GF-PDMS composite is reusable - it can withstand several cycles of operation without deformation. The material also features excellent thermal and electrical conductivity. The GF-PDMS is very light - its density is only 0.54 grams per cubic cm (iron has a density of 7.87 g/cm³, for example).

International wheel producer Vittoria released a new range of bicycle race wheels that are built from graphene-enhanced composite materials. The new wheels (called Qurano) are the best wheels offered by Vittoria, and they say these are the fastest wheels in the world - all thanks to graphene.

The company explains that adding graphene to their carbon-fiber matrix built wheel rim improved the material properties by 10-30%. The graphene reduces temperature build-up, it increases spoke-hole strength and improves the lateral stiffness. Vittoria tells us that even though the Qurano wheels outperform their previous carbon-fiber wheels, they are priced the same.

In December 2011 the EU launched a graphene project called NanoMaster with an aim to develop up-scale processing methods for production of graphene and expanded graphite reinforced thermoplastic masterbatches and compounds. Today the project partners announced that the project is entering its final phase, and is reporting exciting results.

Recently, the project team focused on optimizing and up-scaling the processes for graphene and expanded graphite production, and their subsequent compounding with a range of thermoplastics. They have now achieved a graphene production capacity increase from 50 grams to 2.5 Kg.

A sixteen year-old boy from Lancaster, England developed a composite material that he created from a pencil and sunscreen lotion, that can break down pollutants when exposed to UV light. He suggests using it as a "self-cleaning" coating.

The boy (Samuel Burrow) did some experiments and entered into Google's Science Fair 2014 competition and was eventually chosen as one of the 18 finalists. The grand prize in this competition is a $50,000 scholarship, a trip to the Galapagos islands and more