Haydale Graphene Industries plc, a United Kingdom-based nano-material specialist, has announced that its composite division has teamed up with Huntsman Corp. to develop graphene nano platelets (GNP) in the latter's Araldite epoxy resins.
As part of the agreement, a letter of intent for which has been signed by both parties, Haydale will functionalize GNP using its proprietary HDPlas process, adding them to Huntsman's Araldite resins to create a highly loaded masterbatch.
The ultimate objective of the collaboration will be to commercialize the graphene-enhanced Araldite resins for a range of applications in the composites market.
Gerry Boyce, managing director of the group's Haydale Composite Solutions Ltd., said: “We are highly excited about working with a world-leading resins company and to developing markets and applications for these new graphene-enhanced Araldite resins.
“We see graphene enhanced polymer resins and their use in composite materials as being a revolution. This work opens up the potential for a whole new range of advanced composite materials and products with enhanced performance and lower cost.”
David Hatrick, European technology director for The Woodlands, Texas-based Huntsman's advanced materials, added: “We are pleased to be working closely with HCS on this exciting opportunity.
“The combination of HCS's expertise in functionalized GNPs and our capabilities in epoxy chemistry should create multiple new opportunities to meet the needs of the growing composites market.”