Aerospace - Page 8

Applied Graphene Materials reported its financial results earlier this year (revenues of £97,000 and a net loss of £4.3 million), and the company recently released its annual report which discloses some interesting facts and updates from the year.

In FY2017 (which ended in July 2017), AGM shipped over 230 Kg of graphene dispersions to customers - almost double what it shipped in FY2016. The company's pipeline grew "notably" and it supplied over 200 samples to potential customers. AGM also says that an increasing number of companies are moving towards production - most notable Airbus.

Researchers at the University of Central Lancashire (UCLan) are exploring the practical applications of graphene in the space industry. In a recent experiment, they launched specially-designed graphene-enhanced carbon fiber material into near space using high altitude balloons.

By comparing a graphene-enhanced carbon fiber to a standard carbon fiber casing, the researchers will be able to test how both react to extreme conditions in space. They will then compare the results to determine how graphene can be utilized for aerospace applications.

As part of a collaboration between the Graphene Flagship and the European Space Agency, experiments testing graphene for two different space-related applications have been performed. These have been reported to show very promising results, based on which the Flagship is to continue the development of graphene devices for use in space.

Graphene's excellent thermal properties are promising for improving the performance of loop heat pipes, thermal management systems used in aerospace and satellite applications. Graphene could also have a use in space propulsion, due to its lightness and strong interaction with light. The Graphene Flagship tested both these applications in recent experiments in November and December 2017.

Directa Plus, a producer and supplier of graphene-based products for use in consumer and industrial markets, recently announced that it has entered into a collaboration with GSP SA. Headquartered in Romania and part of the GSP Holding group. GSP will be working with Directa Plus to evaluate the use of Grafysorber, Directa's graphene-based product for environmental applications, in the removal of hydrocarbons from contaminated water emanating from oil & gas activities.

The companies have signed a binding letter of intent to conduct field trials with a view to entering into a commercial agreement during the first half of 2018. Under the terms of the LOI, GSP will commence on-field trials in early 2018 to explore multiple applications for Grafysorber across its range of activities in the oil & gas industry, which include offshore drilling and construction, shipping, engineering, aviation, onshore facilities, logistics and catering. This will involve testing the absorbent capabilities of Grafysorber in decontaminating hydrocarbons from seawater and in the treatment of industrial water.

Sweden-based 2D Fab AB will join SAAB and Blackwing Sweden in developing new graphene-based components to the aviation industry. The idea is relying on graphene's combination of strength and electrical conductivity to create lighter components that will withstand lightning better and thereby reduce the maintenance need.

"We realize that the same type of composite properties are of great interest for the automotive industry as well, although that is a longer term goal. The potential in these markets is huge when we see it taking off. says 2D fabs CEO Sven Forsberg.

Following recently performed experiments in weightlessness, a team of TU Delft researchers has found that graphene sheets may be used as light sails for spacecraft.

As part of the ESA's yearly Drop Your Thesis! program, in which teams of university students submit proposals for microgravity experiments, scientists from TU Delft have worked with experts from across Europe to develop their experiments. They subsequently tested them at the ZARM drop tower at the Center of Applied Space Technology and Micro gravity in Bremen, Germany.

Zenyatta Ventures has announced the commencement of a collaborative research project with Dr. Takashi Kuboki at Western University to develop an advanced plastic (polymer composite) using Zenyatta graphene (or graphene-oxide) derived from Albany high-purity graphite deposit.

Zenyatta sees a potential for such enhanced polymer composite materials to be attractive to the automotive, aerospace and construction industries that seek lightweight materials with added strength, electrical and thermal properties. This new project may expand Zenyatta's business opportunities as a graphene nanomaterial supplier for the polymer composite markets.

Versarien has announced a collaboration with Israel Aerospace Industries in order to develop and test its graphene technology in aerospace composite structures.

According to Versarien, IAI had agreed to buy its Nanene few-layer graphene nano-platelets technology. IAI, a defense and aerospace company, will incorporate it into composite panels for testing and evaluation with the potential to develop it commercially.

Haydale recently announced that it has agreed heads of terms for a technical and commercial collaboration with Rogers Advanced Composites ("RAC). RAC is developing a composites center in the UK, and this collaboration will aim to enable RAC to access Haydale’s extensive technical know-how in composites, polymers and resins and to incorporate the range of advanced graphene enhanced composites, developed by Haydale, into its existing and future projects.

RAC, which has roots in the marine and yachting world through its sister company Rogers Yacht Design, has built a strong reputation in the design and manufacture of advanced composite products. It is Haydale’s understanding that RAC is experiencing a strong demand for high quality composite solutions across a range of industrial sectors including marine, military and motor sport and that RAC is in the process of securing long term production contracts for an oil recovery project as well as several aerospace, military and motor racing projects.

Researchers at Purdue University have created a new type of graphene-enhanced non-liquid lubricant which reduces friction and wear. The suggested applications include air compressors for missile systems and more. The new liquid-free composite is made from a slurry of graphene, zinc oxide, and the polymer polyvinylidene difluoride.

The nanosize zinc-oxide particles allow the lubricant to stick to the metal surface, and the polymer binds the whole mixture together, said the team, which also explained that solid lubricants are needed for numerous applications such as air compressors, equipment used in the food industry, space vehicles, gear-and-chain mechanisms, fasteners found in high-temperature environments, and missile systems.