ADDITIVES | NANOCOMPOSITES
Graphene improves barrier properties
markets including packaging and automotive. NanoXplore, a Canadian graphene producer,
has rebranded its new commercial graphene products with its xGnP trademark: GrapheneBlack xGnP D-300 and GrapheneBlack xGnP D-500, in which the “D” denotes the company’s fully dry manufacturing method that does not use any liquids. The company is expanding its manufactur- ing capability, with additional capacity expected to come on-line in early 2026. The additives are used in a range of thermoplastics applications.
New graphene additives “D-300 and D-500 have demonstrated proven performance in the recycled plastics market, improving mechanical properties, compatibility between mixed resin streams, and photo-resist- ance, especially in recycled PP and TPO, with or without mineral fillers. Independent customer testing across industries (from packaging to automotive) has also confirmed remarkable mechanical improvements at very low loadings in plastics ranging from olefins to nylons and engi- neering polymers,” said Nima Moghimian, Vice President of Technology at Nanoxplore. He added that the D-300 additive shows
promise in polystyrene and polyurethane insulation applications, in which it provides higher R-values while maintaining compressive strength, with no processing issues. The D-500 additive has been used to provide good electrical properties and better processing than highly conductive carbon blacks and CNTs. The latest from NanoXplore are two graphene additives currently at pilot scale. “D-700 and D-750 offer exceptionally high surface areas (700-750 m²/g), which are among the highest for industrial- grade, cost-competitive graphene. Such high
18 COMPOUNDING WORLD | October 2025
Source: Black Swan Graphene
surface area is particularly advantageous for applications requiring strong electromagnetic absorption, from IR-block to UV resistance and beyond,” said Moghimian.
Finding applications Nova Graphene, headquartered in Halifax, Nova Scotia, Canada, is producing its CarbonEra gra- phene at commercial scale in the US and is active globally in investigating applications. The com- pany’s CarbonEra Platinum graphene is made by exfoliation of graphite. Currently the process can produce 5-6 US tons per month (4.5-5.4 metric tonnes), said Paul Beasant, CEO of Nova Graphene. The graphene can be compounded into thermo- plastics to improve properties such as modulus, durability, and chemical and UV resistance. Elongation in ultra-high molecular weight polyeth- ylene (UHMW-PE) is dramatically increased, as well, said Beasant. Due to the quality of the graphene, functionalisation is not required for dispersion in thermoplastics, he noted. Most recently, the company signed an agree- ment to co-develop graphene-enhanced polyethyl- ene sheeting with TufWrap Australia, which provides shrink wrap solutions for commercial and industrial sectors. The graphene is being added via a masterbatch. Testing is ongoing, but it is antici- pated that the addition of graphene will significant- ly enhance the durability of the material, which is essential for efficient use in the harsh Australian climate, said Beasant. With a different partner in Australia, Nova
Graphene is working with its additive in recycled polystyrene for a wide range of products, including rail ties. “The graphene-enhanced PS rail ties are highly UV resistant, waterproof, and termite-resist- ant, which is important in Australia. They offer much
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