NANOCOMPOSITES | MATERIALS
dispersions, and fully formulated com- pounds. “Graphene offers significant product benefits, but unlocking properties is challenging,” says Ali. “We’ve spent a lot of time figuring out how to process and create solutions for our customers.” Ali says that current
megatrends in the plastics industry, such as light-weight- ing and “right-sizing” packaging, create opportunities for graphene, which can act as a UV blocker and add barrier properties. “Graphene can provide multiple composite benefits while poten- tially reducing the need for other additives,” he says. Commercially, XG Sciences has had a busy year. In
June, the company entered a partnership with the Graphene Applications Development Center (GADC) in China, which is a joint venture between Sinochem Plastics and Yuyao PGS New Material Technology. The GADC aims to develop graphene-enhanced thermoplastic composites for end uses including automotive, industrial, and for consumer items to be
manufactured and sold in China. XGSciences is also working with Niagara Bottling– which oper- ates bottling facilities in the US and Mexico – to develop and commercialise gra- phene in PET for beverage bottle and packaging uses. “For years we have used our expertise to innovate for Niagara Bottling’s customers. In this partnership with XG Sci- ences we are now advancing those innovations to the broader packaging industry,” according to Jay
Hanan, Chief Scientist at Niagara. “We are
excited to further enable our industry to utilise graphene to create more efficiently produced and user-friendly packaging.” The partnership intends to sell branded XGPET masterbatch pellets to global packaging compa- nies. The additive improves strength properties, enhances processing, and may allow light-weight- ing of some bottle designs. Although high levels of graphene make dark-colored parts, the companies
Right: A graphene- enhanced masterbatch developed by XG Sciences
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