Graphene specialist Haydale (LON:HAYD) has been handed nearly half a million pounds worth of government grants to work on series of research projects.

The string of studies, set to run over the next 18 months, include working on a low cost, self-cleaning graphene enhanced coating which could be used to clean and filter swimming pools and waste water.

A second task will see the firm focus on developing resins and coatings for boats and sign posts which emit UV fluorescent dyes under impact.

Haydale’s team will also look at the feasibility thermoplastic composite hydrogen pressure vessels for hydrogen powered fuel cell vehicles.

The research grants, totalling over £450,000, will be paid at the end of each project and depend on various milestones being achieved.

Graphene, the so-called miracle material, is extremely thin and light but is also very strong. It can be used as a conductor, for heat-transfer or to add strength and rigidity.

Haydale chief executive Ray Gibbs said the awards allow the firm to engage with aerospace, automotive, rail and marine markets.

The plan for Gibbs and Haydale is to accelerate the commercialisation of graphene along with a whole new range of graphene enhanced composite materials.

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