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- University of Warwick early research highlights benefits for industrial thermoplastics
- Results confirm easy dispersion, good flowability and processability
- Shows promise for commercialisation across new industry sectors
First Graphene Limited is pleased to advise on positive progress regarding the Company’s collaborative project with world-leading researchers at the University of Warwick on the use of graphene in thermoplastic systems.
The project, which commenced in September 2020, aims to unlock the potential of using graphene to enhance the performance of a range of thermoplastic systems.
It is being conducted at Warwick Manufacturing Group (WMG), an industrially focused group with strong links to world leading industrial partners including Jaguar Land Rover.
The team, led by Research Director Professor Tony McNally, Professor in Nanocomposites and Director of the International Institute for Nanocomposites Manufacturing (IINM) at WMG, has completed a study of First Graphene’s materials and their suitability for incorporation into commonly used engineering polymers.
Initial results confirm that the Company’s PureGRAPH® powders allow easy dispersion into polymers with good flowability and processability. When added to engineering thermoplastics, PureGRAPH® graphene improves thermal conductivity and mechanical properties.
Another positive outcome from the initial research was that PureGRAPH® can be incorporated into engineering plastics at very high levels, up to 30 per cent by weight, without substantial increases in viscosity.
Prof. McNally said the team had made a promising start to the project.
“We have been very pleased with the way that First Graphene’s products are easy to process, integrating effectively into the engineering polymers we are using for our study,” he said.
“Even at very high loadings, the graphene platelets are well dispersed and aligned with the polymer flow.”
First Graphene CEO Michael Bell said the Company was very pleased with the progress.
“We appreciate the valuable scientific expertise from Prof. McNally’s team and will apply the learning from the project at the earliest possible convenience as we continue the commercialisation of our products in thermoplastic systems,” Mr Bell said.
“This is promising for extending our reach into numerous additional sectors including automotive manufacturing and various engineering applications.”