TAGS: Polymer Reinforcement Graphene for Poymers
From being labeled “Material of the Future” to real-world applications seen today, Graphene has come a long way. With a host of attractive features & properties, it has garnered the interest of several industries. Today, the applications vary from energy and electronics to aerospace and biomedical devices.
In a 5-minute interview, I discussed more about this fascinating 2-D material with
Ron Mertens, founder & editor-in-chief of Graphene-info and author of
The Graphene Handbook.
Which are the top breakthrough innovations you’ve seen in the last 12 months?
RM:
There have been several exciting innovations. On the commercial front, we've seen Huawei's smartphone heat-dissipating films (Mate P20 X) and
Ford's graphene components. I think these were very exciting as these are known brands and this can help make graphene into consumers hands. Other than that we've seen interesting applications in construction materials, tires, paints and more.
Is commercialization still the biggest challenge for graphene-based products? If no, could you share with us the main challenge(s)?
RM: Graphene has many challenges, like handling, quality control, uniformity and production processes. Commercialization is a challenge but I believe that in the past 1-2 years we have seen many real-world applications and industrial adoption far beyond what is communicated in most media. Still getting real volume shipments is a challenge for many companies, as there are many active players. Finally, the move from lab to market is difficult and frustrating to many.
What are the key trends that could impact the future outlook for the graphene industry?
RM: I think that in the near future we will continue to see the main applications in composites, thermal management, sensors and inks. I think the next step forward will be to secure large-scale devices on the market with graphene, enhance perception and sort out the standardization issues.
Thanks Ron!
About Ron Mertens
Ron Mertens is the founder and editor-in-chief of Graphene-info, an international publication with tens of thousands of readers who follow the latest graphene news and enjoy the various offered services. He’s in charge of marching the company in the right direction, as well as its day-to-day operations.
He started the company more than 5 years ago based on vision and passion alone, which were soon followed by knowledge, industry insight and an in-depth familiarity with the rapidly-evolving world of graphene. He skillfully drives Graphene-info’s strategic vision while handling its ever-evolving pool of business development support and nanomaterial brokerage services.
Ron has a life-long fascination with technology, which is evident not only from his formal education as a software engineer but also from his neverending quest to find the next big thing to make the world a better place. When it comes to graphene, he feels excited about what the future holds - especially when it comes to energy storage and generation applications.
About Graphene-Info
Graphene-Info has been the leading international graphene publication for over 9 years, with a readership of tens of thousands of professionals a month. It provides a multitude of services to the graphene market based on its extensive and up-to-date knowledge hub and close ties with industry leaders.
Graphene-Info’s consultancy services include market outreach assistance, nanomaterials brokerage, support for graphene initiatives, business development and more.
Graphene Flagship Program: Coming Together of Academia & Industry
Personally, I’ve been closely following this topic and I believe that the interest in graphene & other 2D materials will continue to be high in the upcoming years. One of the leading initiatives that have led to fast-paced progress in this field is the
EU-funded Graphene Flagship Program. With a duration of 10 years and a budget of EUR 1 billion, it is EU’s largest research initiative involving academia & industry both. Currently, it in its “Core 2” Phase (2018-2020) and is on track to enable innovative applications. Several interesting developments have come to the fore from this program.
Some key highlights seen so far include:
PolyGraph: Graphene-reinforced Polymers Ready for Commercialization
The
project (November 2013 to October 2017) aimed to deliver industrial-scale quantities of graphene-reinforced thermosetting polymers. It led to the identification of the most suitable materials and production techniques for graphene-based coatings, adhesives and composites. The most promising products were used in demonstrator parts in aerospace & automotive applications and they provided the following benefits:
- Better structural behavior
- Weight reduction
- Aesthetics
- Electrical properties
- Fire retardation
Production Work Package: Mass Production of Graphene for Commercial Market Applications
Led by Aixtron Ltd., an industrial equipment manufacturer, the
production work package partners include:
- Avanzare Innovacion Tecnologica SL Graphenea SA and Grupo Antolin-Ingenieria SA, commercial producers of graphene
- Airbus Operations SL and Aernnova, graphene end users
Researchers under the flagship have successfully developed a methodology that transfers high-quality graphene on large-area substrates. Also, one of the partners, Avanzare managed to increase graphene production to tons per year.
They also worked on the qualification of graphene-based products in real-life cases. Targeted applications in focus:
- Automotive
- Aerospace
- Optoelectronic industries
Lots more has been done under this project and it would be interesting to watch out for the final results at the end of the 10-year journey.
Watch this space for more!
» Read more about how graphene is positioned as the future mainstream material in plastics industry!