Graphene-Info newsletter

Ford to release graphene-enhanced cars by the end of 2018

Automotive giant Ford announced that it will become the first automaker to use graphene parts in its vehicles, starting with the Mustang and F-150 by the end of 2018.

Ford acknowledges the difficulties of graphene manufacturing and use, but in partnership with Eagle Industries and XG Sciences, it has determined a way to make use of graphene reinforcement in certain components to strengthen and lighten them, as well as reduce noise. Since 2014, Ford and its partners have tested graphene-reinforced foam covers for noisy components such as the fuel rail, pumps, and belt-driven pulleys or chain-driven gears on the front of engines. The graphene is mixed with foam constituents, and the resulting parts are said to be 17% quieter, 20% stronger, and 30% more heat-resistant.

Huawei's new Mate 20 X uses graphene film cooling technology

Chinese telecommunications giant Huawei launched the Mate 20 series, which includes the Mate 20, Mate 20 Pro and Mate 20 X. In its Mate 20 X phone, the largest in the lineup with its 7.2-inch OLED display, Huawei uses “graphene film cooling technology” for heat management purposes.

Huawei states that its Mate 20 X features Huawei Supercool - "the world’s first liquid multi-dimensional cooling system with Vapor Chamber (VC) and Graphene Film used in smartphones". It reportedly conducts heat away fast, keeping the device cool even under heavy loads (as the device is touted as a gaming device).

The graphene producer for this Huawei phone will be China-based The Sixth Element Materials. Click for more information!

Impressions from the 2018 Graphene Week in San Sebastian

The Graphene-Info team attended this year's Graphene Week, organized by the Graphene Flagship in San Sebastian, Spain, 10-14 September 2018. The event attracted over 600 visitors from all over the world, and was extremely well organized.

While the talks and lectures were clearly scientifically-oriented, the commercial angle was also evident and many institutes and companies were there to show their recent product advancements. The Graphene Flagship's booth held a fascinating array of exhibits: graphene-enhanced retina and neural prosthesis (biomedical devices) by the ICN2 as a part of Braincom, Airbus' graphene composite for the leading edge of the tail of the Airbus A350, Nokia, Ericsson and AMO's graphene-based modulators and photodetectors for optical communications, a prosthetic robotic hand enhanced with graphene nerve sensors by the IIT, University of Cambridge's insole graphene-based pressure sensor and more. Read the full post here.

Hydroton launches a graphene-enhanced anti-corrosion primer

Greece-based industrial paint producer Hydroton launched a new graphene-enhanced zinc epoxy paint - the 23303 ZINCTON GNC. This is a two-component epoxy based coating that offers improved cathodic protection due to the addition of the graphene, compared to epoxy zinc rich primers.

The new primer also offers improved adhesion to metal and as the zinc content is low, it is still cost effective. It is recommended for applications in highly corrosive environments. Hydroton says that the graphene addition enhances the effectiveness of this epoxy coating. As you can see in the above image, the is visible corrosion in Hydroton's regular epoxy coating after 720 hours, while the graphene-enhanced one looks much better even after 1,440 hours.

ANS launches a graphene-fortified polymer-bonded coating

Sweden-based Applied Nano Surfaces (ANS) launched a new product, Tricolit GO, one of the first graphene-enhanced low-friction coatings on the market today. Tricolit is available now from ANS, in easy-to-apply spray cans or in bulk. The product can be used to reduce friction and wear. ANS claims that the use of graphene allows a tenfold increase in the coating’s mechanical strength and abrasion-resistance.

We have talked to ANS CTO, Boris Zhmud, and he revealed that ANS uses graphene dispersions from UK-based Applied Graphene Materials. Tricolit GO is still considered an "experimental" product. The development was financed by Sweden's SIO-Grafen.

New graphene metrology service by Graphene-Info

Graphene-Info teamed up with world-renowned laboratories to offer a unique graphene metrology service that provides characterization and analysis on graphene materials.

Dozens of companies are producing various types of graphene materials, which causes much diversification and confusion. Our metrology service offers graphene producers the chance to obtain valuable test results and post-testing analysis and interpretation, that assist in proving viability and quality of production. In addition, displaying critical data to customers like the material characteristics and potential applications is key to successful marketing and sales activities.

The Graphene Crowdfunding Arena - a new way to raise funds for graphene companies

Graphene-Info is happy to launch The Graphene Crowdfunding Arena, a new platform that connects investors with graphene companies seeking funds.

Crowdfunding can work as an alternative to, or in tandem with, angel or venture/strategic financing, allowing businesses to obtain a diverse range of value-added capital. For more information, click here.

Graphene-Info's Market Reports updated to October 2018

This month Graphene-Info published new versions of all its graphene market reports.

Graphene-Info provides comprehensive niche graphene market reports, and its reports cover everything you need to know about these markets. The reports are now updated to October 2018. Click here to more information!.

Several recent reports have popped up regarding an unknown number of China’s Z-10 air-to-ground attack helicopters that have been upgraded with graphene to serve as an extra layer of protection.

Talga Resources announced positive initial test results from the development of its graphene silicon lithium-ion anode in the UK.

First Graphene announced that it has entered into an agreement to test PureGRAPH in a range of recreational equipment produced by Chemiplas.

MIT engineers have found a way to mass produce synthetic cells (syncells) through controlled fracturing of graphene to create cell-sized robots that could collect data about their environment.

Directa Plus announced the receipt of two orders from an Italian work-wear customer with an aggregate value for Directa Plus of approximately €500,000 over the next two financial years.

Researchers at the University of California, Santa Cruz and Lawrence Livermore National Laboratory in California developed a new fabrication technique to make capacitors enhanced with graphene that store a large amount of charge over a given surface area.

Researchers from Empa and the Adolphe Merkle Institute (AMI) in Fribourg conducted studies on a 3D lung model to examine the behavior of graphene and graphene-like materials once they have been inhaled.

Researchers affiliated with the Graphene Flagship have shown that integrated graphene-based photonic devices offer a unique solution for the next generation of optical communications

Researchers at IBM Research-Brazil, along with other academic collaboration partners, have proven that it is possible to electrify graphene so that it deposits material at any desired location at a solid surface with an almost-perfect turnout of 97%.