UK-based graphene manufacturer Haydale Graphene Industries Plc has announced that its composites division, Haydale Composite Solutions Ltd, has signed a letter of intent as a first step in agreeing a joint development and commercialisation agreement with Huntsman Advanced Materials GmbH, a leading global manufacturer of epoxy, acrylic and polyurethane based polymer products.
Pursuant to the agreement Haydale will functionalise Graphene Nano Platelets (“GNPs”) utilising its proprietary HDPlas® process and add them to Huntsman’s ARALDITE® resins to create a highly loaded masterbatch. Under the proposed agreement, it is anticipated that Huntsman and HCS will develop and validate the use of GNPs in ARALDITE® epoxy resins, utilising HCS’s proprietary HDPlas® process. The ultimate objective of the collaboration will be to commercialise graphene enhanced ARALDITE® resins for a range of applications in the composites market.
Gerry Boyce Managing Director of HCS 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.”
Dr David Hatrick, European Technology Director at Huntsman Advanced Materials said: “We are pleased to be working closely with HCS on this exciting opportunity. The combination of HCS’s expertise in functionalised GNPs and our capabilities in epoxy chemistry should create multiple new opportunities to meet the needs of the growing composites market.”
Ray Gibbs, Haydale Chief Executive, added: “We have identified the composites market as a strategic sector for our functionalised graphene and other nano materials with HCS being a fundamental route to market for our plasma functionalised materials. This agreement represents a major opportunity to work with a global partner to develop a whole new range of formulated resins with enhanced properties which they can sell into the composites’ market across the world.”
