Aerospace - Page 12

It is well within the realm of gossip, but too interesting to pass on: rumor has it that a Chinese based international company called DJI is planning to come out with a drone called DJI Inspire Graphene around March-April 2015.

The multi-rotor aircraft is said to have graphene used in components like frame, arms and props to achieve light-weight and stiffness, but also in the drone's battery, for more capacity, faster loading and longevity. The battery part seems especially hard to believe as graphene batteries have not yet been commercially used.

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.

Researchers from Stockholm University managed to develop a super-insulating and fire retardant foam for house insulation by freezing together graphene oxide, cellulose nanofibers and clay nanorods.

The foam is highly porous and boasts lower thermal conductivity than traditional insulators like polystyrene and polyurethane. It is mechanically stiff, able to sustain great loads and also does not need to be laced with organic fire retardants (it is inherently fire retardant). The researchers believe this foam could even be fitted onto older buildings without tampering with their appearance.

Bloomberg posted an interesting article on Applied Graphene Materials, the graphene maker that was established in 2010 as a spin-off from Durham University to develop a new CVD-based graphene synthesis method and produce graphene materials. The company's CEO, Jon MabbitT, details some interesting new applications they are trying to develop.

AGM is currently targeting two types of applications. First up are early-adopters, such as Formula 1 teams. But AGM is also looking to enter into long-term products - mainly in the aerospace industry. Graphene can enable stronger and lighter materials, suitable for aircraft. AGM is also working with Dyson (vacuum cleaner developer), Procter & Gamble, lubricants makers and wind-turbine developers. Finally, they are developing an impermeable rustproof coatings for ships.

Last month we reported that researchers from Beijing are developing graphene-enhanced titanium alloys that may be useful as a new material for aircraft. Today we learn that the Chinese are not alone in their graphene efforts for the aerospace industry.

So first up with a new research by the University of Manchester, that developed new carbon fibers using a composite material made from two layers of polymer with a graphene sheet placed between them. Using Raman Spectroscopy, the researchers measured these fibers and found them to be very strong, even when stretched. The researchers say that these can be used to make structural, lightweight components for fuel efficient cars and aircraft.

Researchers from the Beijing Institute of Aeronautical Materials developed a new material that combines graphene and aluminum alloy. The institute aims to use this strong material to enhance titanium alloys - and produce new materials for aircrafts.

This material has a yield strength of 58% and a tensile strength of 25% - which are excellent properties for making high-end alloys.

The UK Technology Strategy Board launched a new collaborative R&D project called NanoSynth with a budget of almost a million GBP ($1.5 million USD) - to develop a synthesis platform for the industry-scale production of graphene-filled epoxy resins for advanced composite applications.

According to the NetComposites, the project coordinator, those graphene epoxy resins will improve current resins and will feature better strength, stiffness, toughness, electrical conductivity and thermal performance. The new resins may prove to have a significant impact on a wide range of markets, including the aerospace and automotive ones. The worldwide yearly market of epoxy resins is estimated at over $15 billion.

XG Sciences, one of the few companies in the world that offer xGnPs (Graphene Nanoplatelets, short stacks of graphene sheets made through a proprietary manufacturing process), say they have over 600 customers - in the automotive, electronics, battery and aerospace industries. The most active companies are Asian electronics and battery makers.

The company says they generated $4 million in revenue in 2012. Not all of this are product sales (for example they have a license agreement with Cabot Corporation, signed in 2011) - but it's still impressive considering that Lux Research estimates that the entire graphene market was just $9 million in 2012.

Xolve signed an agreement with London's NTT Carbon Fiber Group to co-develop products for the aerospace industry. Xolve's graphene will be combined with NTT's epoxy resins and these new materials could be used to produce products such as airplane parts or even an airplane wing. This is just an early research work however, and Xolve says it could take anywhere from 18 months to give years till this is commercialized.

Back in 2010 Xolve raised $2 million, and the company is working to commercialize intellectual property that enables simple room temperature processing of graphene and other nanoparticle composites, solutions and coatings. You can read an interesting interview with the company's R&D VP here.