Avanzare

Avanzare and Tecnalia are working together to develop a digital twin comprising various sensors installed along an extraction cabin, aimed at mitigating operator exposure to graphene particles. The goal is to develop risk control strategies in industrial processes, optimizing sensor use to reduce energy consumption and maintain a particle-free environment, thus minimizing energy use.

These sensors gather data on nanoparticle presence in the environment within one of the cabins used in graphene materials production and transmit it to a server, where it is depicted in graphs. This visual representation allows for monitoring nanoparticle concentration and preventing their presence in the environment. Depending on extraction regulation, particles can be effectively removed; without extraction, nanoparticles accumulate, posing health risks to operators. Thus, these sensors enable monitoring of nanoparticle exposure. If concentrations become too high, activating extraction systems ensures a safe environment. The system also predicts accidental emissions to prevent them.

Graphene-Info is happy to give the stage to talented young graphene researchers, especially those with such commitment and passion as Dr. Maria Giovanna Pastore Carbone, who has agreed to chat with us and answer a few questions about her background, work and collaboration with the Graphene Flagship.

Maria-Giovanna (right) in the lab at FORTH, with collaborator Christos Pavlou

Dr. Maria Giovanna Pastore Carbone is an Italian Materials Engineer, Post-Doctoral Fellow at the Institute of Chemical Engineering Sciences of the Foundation for Research and Technology Hellas (FORTH/ICEHT). She has been working on graphene since 2015 and has joined the Graphene Flagship in 2017. Her current research in the framework of the Graphene Flagship project is focused on the integration of graphene and related materials for the development of multi-functional systems (such as lightweight composites for EMI shielding applications and coatings for protection against UV-vis radiation and permeation of gasses/vapors), with emphasis on their structure/property relationship.

SPAC, an Italy-based medium-sized company specializing in the production of technical textiles, has joined the Graphene Flagship's Spearhead Project G+BOARD that aims to build parts of cars’ passenger compartments with graphene and related materials.

G+BOARD’s researchers aim to remove most of the copper wiring currently used in dashboards, to reduce the car’s weight and production steps, while improving aesthetics, disposal and recyclability. SPAC is developing new steering wheels and glove boxes with graphene-based materials.

This is a sponsored post by IDTechEx

We have been following the graphene industry as analysts for the past seven years. The results of our ongoing research can be seen here: www.IDTechEx.com/graphene. In this time, we have seen the industry grow in maturity.

At first, the industry was an over-hyped field, full of over-promising, under-delivery, and utter confusion. Then, the community spent multiple years to covert itself into a viable proposition in multiple ways:

Avanzare has started construction of its new 10,000 square meters graphene production plant in Navarrete Spain.

Avanzare is a supplier of high-performance nanomaterials, nanotechnology-based solutions provider and Graphene Flagship partner. In 2016, Avanzare introduced a graphene additive for industrial resins used for corrosion-resistant tanks and pipes for storage and transport of potentially explosive chemicals.

The Spain-based Avanzare, nanomaterials and nanotechnology-based solutions provider and Graphene Flagship partner, has introduced to the market a graphene additive for industrial resins used for corrosion-resistant tanks and pipes for storage and transport of potentially explosive chemicals. Their product will be showcased at the Composites Europe exhibition, running from the 29 November to 1 December in Düsseldorf, Germany.

The company's graphene-based product can be used to help avoid explosions due to electrostatic charges. Avanzare aims to produce vessels and equipment using resins instead of the usual metals; These resins are also cheaper, lighter and have very good corrosion resistance. The graphene-resin, claimed to already be in use in high-volume industry applications, was developed by Avanzare through a collaboration with Ashland, an international chemical manufacturing company. According to company reports, the graphene-resin is already in use in chemical plants across Europe, and Ashland has installed graphene-resin systems in their facilities in Spain.