TECHNOLOGY | NANOCOMPOSITES


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NanoExplore sees its graphene additives playing a role in ‘upcycling’ performance of recycled plastics


food-contact applications, which could include products such as potable water pipes, food containers, food packaging, and agricultural films. “GrapheneBlack is a


non-oxidised graphene, which makes it chemically inert,” says Soroush Nazarpour, President and CEO of NanoXplore. This inertness contrasts with some other nanomaterials, including graphene oxide or titanium dioxide, which have an oxygen content that makes them reactive in biologi- cal systems, he explains. Although the EU’s EFSA said in May 2021 that titanium dioxide is no longer suitable as a food additive due to the potential for concerns about genotoxicity of the particles, this concern is not expected to affect GrapheneBlack, which makes it potentially useful in food-contact applications, the company claims. NanoXplore recently entered a supply and


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distribution agreement with a new Brazilian company, Gerdau Graphene, which was created by steel-maker Gerdau to develop and market prod- ucts based on graphene for several industries, including thermoplastics. Gerdau is also a partner with the University of Manchester’s Graphene Engineering Innovation Centre (GEIC) and with graphene manufacturer


First Graphene. In thermoplastic compounds, GrapheneBlack can improve electrical


conductivity, barrier properties, and chemical resistance and enable lightweighting, the company says. It can also boost strength in recycled resins, providing a performance “upgrade” option for formulators of recycled compounds. “Recycled resins are one of the main target


applications for GrapheneBlack and part of our sustainability mission,” says Nazarpour. “Graphene gives the lowest-grade recycled resins another life


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