First Graphene Ltd (ASX:FGR, OTCQB:FGPHF) has formed a collaboration agreement with global construction chemicals manufacturer Fosroc International Limited for the development of PureGRAPH® graphene-enhanced cement additives or grinding aids.
This agreement marks a key step in First Graphene’s strategy to aid the cement and concrete industries – which are responsible for up to 8% of global carbon dioxide emissions – in achieving a 25% emissions reduction by 2030.
Access to multiple global markets
First Graphene managing director and CEO Michael Bell said: “The agreement with Fosroc is a significant further step for First Graphene as we implement our go-to-market plan to become the world’s leading supplier of graphene-enhanced cement and concrete solutions.
“Fosroc has significant penetration into multiple global markets that will be highly beneficial in helping expand our reach and educating the market on the significant benefits, including emission reductions, that graphene-enhanced products provide."
The cement industry is exploring methods to produce cements with a lower clinker factor (the main carbon-intensive component of cement) in order to produce greener cements.
Under current production methods, between 0.8 and 0.9 tonnes of CO2 are emitted per tonne of clinker produced.
First Graphene says that adding low dosages of PureGRAPH®-enhanced cement additives to the final grinding phase of cement production can lower the clinker factor by up to 20% while maintaining or improving cement performance.
The company believes PureGRAPH®-enhanced cement additives will assist cement manufacturers in improving the efficiency of the grinding phase in cement production, while also enhancing the physical properties and strength of the cement.
“Next generation of Cement Additives”
Fosroc head of technology and product management Dr Martyn Whitehead said: “Fosroc is excited to be working together with First Graphene to develop the next generation of cement additives using graphene technology with a focus on enhancing the performance characteristics of low clinker factor cements.”
The five-year collaboration agreement is designed to facilitate the exchange of knowledge through research and development work.
Both parties will contribute scientific and industry knowledge at their own cost, with First Graphene providing access to its PureGRAPH® product range, formulation and dispersion process technologies, while Fosroc will take responsibility for additive raw material supplies and formulations, mixing and dispersion and extensive laboratory trials.
Ultimately, the objective of the collaboration is to jointly develop a range of PureGRAPH®-enhanced cement additives that Fosroc will add to its portfolio of specialty products.
These would provide the cement industry – which is predicted to hold a market value of US$774 billion by 2027 – with a global solution to reducing carbon dioxide emissions.
About the companies
First Graphene Ltd (ASX:FGR, OTCQB:FGPHF) is a leading supplier of high-performing, graphene products.
The company has a robust manufacturing platform based upon captive supply of high-purity raw materials and an established 100 tonne/year graphene production capacity.
Commercial applications are now being progressed in composites, elastomers, fire retardancy, construction and energy storage.
First Graphene is publicly listed in Australia and has a primary manufacturing base in Henderson, near Perth, WA.
The company is incorporated in the UK as First Graphene (UK) Ltd and is a Tier 1 partner at the Graphene Engineering and Innovation Centre (GEIC), Manchester, UK.
Fosroc is a global manufacturer of specialised construction chemicals with a particular focus on concrete and cement.
It has offices and manufacturing locations across Europe, Africa, the Middle East, India, North, South and East Asia, with distributor representation across many other regions.