Black Swan Graphene (TSX-V:SWAN) has announced a range of graphene-enhanced masterbatch products which offer different performance and attributes of products aimed at multiple applications in the polymer industry.
The announcement comes after the company recently ratified a commercial agreement with black masterbatch manufacturing firm Hubron International.
Black Swan said its initial production volumes are focused on polypropylene, a widely used polymer known for its versatility and cost-effectiveness.
The company said by incorporating 1% graphene into the polypropylene, a 30% improvement in impact resistance was achieved in a Notched Izod test, which measures the amount of energy absorbed by a material when struck by a notched sample.
Masterbatches with a loading ratio of up to 20% are available in various polymers which have multiple benefits including enhanced processability and, in turn, cost-effectiveness, it said.
Black Swan said it and partner Hubron are working with an industrial polymer manufacturer to develop plastic materials aimed at reducing weight, expanding design freedom, reducing complexity, enhancing thermal management, and reducing environmental impact.
To date, based on a loading ratio of 0.2% the development program has resulted in a 20% improvement in tensile strength, the company highlighted.
"This development marks a substantial leap in advancing the performance of polymer materials. The enhanced capabilities of graphene-enhanced polypropylene not only signify a breakthrough but also have the potential to reshape entire industries,” Black Swan CEO Simon Marcotte commented.
“We are confident that this innovation will spark creativity and drive transformative solutions across a diverse range of products and applications."
In the coming months, the company said it is looking to introduce similar products for Polyamide 6, Polyamide 66, Polyethylene Terephthalate, and Polylactic Acid.
Black Swan is focused on the large-scale production and commercialization of patented high-performance and low-cost graphene products aimed at several industrial sectors, including concrete, polymers, lithium-ion batteries, and others, which are expected to require large volumes of graphene.