Graphene composites: introduction and market status - Page 10

First Graphene (FGR) says that its fourth quarter (FY22) revenues reached a record 359,000 AUD. Its full-year (FY2022) revenues increased 111% to $723,000 AUD.

First Graphene says that its strong performance in the last quarter was driven by several significant orders for its graphene materials, and also new application/research development services. The composites and plastics segments contributed 46% of its revenues in the quarter, followed by cement/concrete (31%). Coatings, adhesives, sealants and elastomers contributed 12%.

Researchers from Tecnologico Nacional de México, McGill University and Centro de Investigacion en Materiales Avanzados S.C. have examined the use of Graphene nanobuds (GNBs), formed on copper (Cu) foil via chemical vapor deposition, as an anode in lithium-ion batteries.

Producing high-performance anode materials that possess excellent specific capacities and extended cyclic ability is currently one of the key development areas in lithium-ion batteries. The energy storage capacity of lithium-ion batteries heavily depends on the anode materials used and their structure. Carbonaceous substances remain the anode materials of choice because of the strong attraction between lithium (Li) and graphitic carbon. Graphene possesses a large capacity to accommodate lithium ions in its framework because of its significant surface area and excellent electrical conductivity.

Haydale has announced that it has started collaborating on the innovation and the supply of graphene with Vittoria and has received its first order for one tonne of functionalized graphene nanomaterial.

Vittoria is a leading manufacturer of performance bicycle tires and has since 2015 pioneered the application of graphene in the rubber of bicycle tires. The functionalized nanomaterial has been proven to create substantial improvements in grip, rolling resistance, puncture resistance and durability.

Swedish graphene-solutions provider Graphmatech has partnered with 3D printer manufacturer Wematter to enhance polymer powders with graphene, to make them electrically- and thermally conductive, improve processibility, and more.

Together, the two startups will develop an electrically conductive powder, tailored for Gravity the SLS 3D printer by Wematter. The high-performance powder will enable Telecommunications, Aerospace and Automotive manufacturers to print parts with improved or maintained mechanical properties whilst achieving electrostatic dissipative (ESD), shielding, or even lower resistivity, performance.

This is a sponsored post by SP Nano

Israel-based SP Nano developed a unique dispersion technology based on a genetically engineered exceptionally stable protein that is highly suitable for carbon nanoparticles (CNPs) dispersion, including graphene, CNTs and carbon black.

Following years of intensive R&D, SP Nano is now offering its dispersions to application developers. This is the first time that carbon nanomaterials can “truly” be dispersed and achieve cutting-edge performance across a wide range of applications.

SP Nano’s dispersions are now being applied to a wide range of applications, such as

• Coatings (textiles, surfaces, powders, etc.)
• Dispersions in matrices (resins, polymers, etc.)
• Liquid formulations (coolants, inks, slurries, etc.)

Last year's announcement about a British engineering company called Viritech that is working on an ambitious hydrogen-powered hypercar was recently followed by an update on that same company, that unveiled its 745kW hydrogen-powered hypercar, styled by Italian car design specialist Pininfarina.

The Apricale, which produces zero emissions, made its debut at Goodwood’s Festival of Speed. It was said that the Apricale uses ‘graphene-reinforced hydrogen pressure vessels’, which was explained to mean that the hydrogen storage tanks form a structural element of the chassis. This reduces weight and cost, while simplifying the structure.

Researchers from China's Donghua University have developed a new way to make wigs more durable and longer lasting - using graphene oxide.

Hairpieces can be made of real human strands or synthetic materials, but either way, washing, UV exposure from the sun and repeated styling can cause these products to become dry and brittle. To extend the life of wigs, researchers have spray-coated a layer of graphene oxide on them, whereas other teams have immersed wigs in a keratin/halloysite nanocomposite. Since it's difficult to cover an entire hairpiece with these methods, the team wanted to see if a nanocomposite applied with a tried-and-true approach for coating surfaces with ultrathin films - known as the Langmuir-Blodgett (LB) technique - could improve coverage and increase durability.

Gerdau Graphene has announced that it has created next-generation graphene-enhanced plastics at a Brazilian government-funded advanced materials center in São Paulo.

The new graphene-enhanced polymeric resin masterbatches formulas for polyethylene (PP) and polypropylene (PE) were created in partnership with Brazil’s EMBRAPII SENAI/SP Advanced Materials Unit, and are being piloted in a series of industrial applications within Gerdau’s factories. The new thermoplastic products created using these formulas will be stronger and offer greater overall performance while costing less to manufacture and producing significantly less waste across the value chain. The first commercial deliveries are expected in June.

Khalifa University in Abu Dhabi, United Arab Emirates, have launched a new global graphene funding opportunity, aiming to support the development and applications of graphene (and other 2D materials) in the areas of composites (lightweighting), water and energy.

Khlaifa University established a new fund, called the RIC-2D Research and Innovation Fund, which will offer funding of up to $2 million per year for each project, for a maximum project duration of 3 years.

While graphene-based materials have potential as adsorbent materials, their performance can be hindered due to aggregation and a lack of control over their porosities and dimensions. The researchers in a recent study, from the University of Exeter, Kyushu University and the University of Oxford, have addressed this issue by developing a unique graphene material combined with a high porosity composite foam to combat aggregation.

Pharmaceuticals are among the most prominent emerging contaminants (ECs) in water systems. They may cause severe environmental consequences along with potential health problems. To successfully eradicate ECs from processed wastewater streams, effluent and drinking water purification facilities must adopt adequate tertiary treatment methods. Adsorption is regarded as a technology with great potential in water treatment as it is dependable and less expensive compared to reverse osmosis, oxidizing, microfiltration, ultrafiltration, ion exchange, etc.