Graphene Coating: introduction and market status
What is a coating?
A coating is a covering that is applied to the surface of an object. The purpose of applying the coating may be decorative, functional, or both. Coatings are ubiquitous and can be found on walls, furniture, on all sorts of wires and printed circuits, the outside of houses and cars, and much more. In addition, the decorative duties of coatings span quite a broad spectrum.
Decorative coatings are mainly used for their color, texture or other visual property. Functional coatings are applied to change the surface properties of the substrate, such as adhesion, wettability, corrosion resistance, wear resistance and more. In some cases, the coating adds an entirely new property such as a magnetic response or electrical conductivity and forms an essential part of the finished product.
Coatings may be used in various processes, that are roughly divided into: vapor deposition, spraying, chemical and electrochemical techniques, roll-to-roll coating processes and other, less prominent techniques.
What is graphene?
Graphene is a two dimensional layer of carbon atoms, arranged in the form of a honeycomb lattice. It is touted as a “miracle material†because it is endowed with an abundance of astonishing traits - this thin, one atom thick substance is the lightest, strongest, thinnest material known to man, as well as the best heat and electricity conductor ever discovered - and the list does not end there. Graphene is the subject of relentless research and is thought to be able to revolutionize whole industries, as researchers work on many different kinds of graphene-based materials - each one with unique qualities and purpose.
Graphene for coatings
The vast array of extraordinary properties that graphene possesses can open the door to many interesting types of coatings, paints, inks and more. Graphene's high resistivity can make for durable coatings that do not crack and are resistant to water and oil; its excellent electrical and thermal conductivity can be used to make various conductive paints, and a strong barrier effect can contribute to extraordinary anti-oxidant, scratch-resistant and anti-UVA coatings.
Graphene enables a wide array of functional coatings and paints, for many possible applications. Among these can be high performance adhesives enabled by graphene's high adhesion property, anti-bacterial coatings, solar paints (capable of absorbing solar energy and transmitting it), paints that provide isolation for houses, anti-rust coatings, anti-fog paints and UV ray blockers, non-stick coatings for various domestic applications (like frying pans and countertops) and even a much-hyped possibility (currently under scientific examination) of a coating that turns a regular wall into a screen.
There are already companies that are selling graphene coatings commercially, while many others are in the testing stage. Uses vary, but graphene coatings can be found in the automotive and marine vehicles fields, and others as well.
Further reading
- Introduction to graphene
- Graphene Composites
- Graphene company database
- How to invest in the graphene revolution
- The Graphene Handbook, our very own guide to the graphene market
Sparc Technologies completes first commercial delivery of ecosparc® graphene additive to Tier 1 coatings customer
Sparc Technologies has completed the first commercial delivery of its ecosparc® graphene additive to a Tier 1 coatings customer, fulfilling a 160kg order from the company's production facility in Adelaide, South Australia, for use in a high-performance protective coating.
The delivery follows the launch of two ecosparc®-enhanced coatings products since May 2026, including AkzoNobel's commercial release of ecosparc-enhanced Interzone 954, and represents the first widely used protective coating product to incorporate Sparc's graphene additive.
Levidian launches NanoFlow-S1-20, a drop-in graphene additive for solvent-based paints and coatings
Levidian has launched NanoFlow-S1-20, the first product in its new NanoFlow range of graphene dispersions, designed to make it faster and easier for the coatings industry to evaluate and adopt graphene in existing solvent-based formulations.
NanoFlow-S1-20 is a high-concentration coating additive containing 20 wt.% of Levidian's G3 graphene, pre-dispersed in xylene. It is designed as a drop-in solution that can be blended using standard paint mixing equipment, either into Part A of a two-part coating system or directly into a one-part formulation. The aim is to remove one of the persistent barriers to graphene adoption in coatings: incorporating high-quality graphene consistently and efficiently without formulators having to develop their own dispersion processes from scratch.
Graphene Leaders Canada commercializes graphene-enhanced electroless nickel additive
Graphene Leaders Canada (GLC), a Canadian advanced materials company, has announced the commercialization of its proprietary graphene-enhanced electroless nickel (EN) additive, marking a milestone in the Company's transition from research and development to commercial deployment.
Following years of scientific innovation, engineering, formulation optimization, and industry validation, GLC has brought its graphene nanoplatelets (GNPs) additive technology from the laboratory to real-world industrial applications, reporting significant improvements in corrosion resistance and wear performance over conventional electroless nickel coatings.
GMG’s THERMAL‑XR graphene coating achieves 30,000‑hour corrosion milestone as June sales hit new record
Graphene Manufacturing Group (GMG) has reported a record month for THERMAL‑XR sales orders, booking over AU$400,000 (around US$278,000) in June 2026, driven by growing demand for its graphene‑enhanced coating in HVAC‑R and industrial energy‑saving applications. This builds on GMG’s recent progress in scaling production, including commissioning a dedicated THERMAL‑XR blending plant with capacity to produce hundreds of thousands of liters of coating annually, and expanding distributor networks across North America and Asia.
In a separate announcement, GMG mentioned that its THERMAL‑XR graphene coating has reached a major performance milestone, completing 30,000 hours of global benchmark corrosion testing with no observed corrosion, after already exceeding several ASTM and ISO corrosion‑resistance standards.
Sparc launches new additive range for ESD and conductive coatings
Sparc Technologies has announced the launch of SparcES™, a new graphene additive range for electrostatic discharge (ESD) and conductive coatings, targeting applications used in data centers, semiconductor facilities and electric vehicle battery manufacturing plants.
According to Sparc, the SparcES™ range has been developed following approximately 24 months of electrical conductivity testing using various graphene sources and polymer resins. The company said the testing identified significant differences in the conductivity performance of graphene-enhanced coatings depending on material selection and dosage.
GTechPlasma advances graphene radar-absorbing coatings for defense use
Researchers in Portugal are developing a graphene-based material designed to reduce the radar visibility of drones and military aircraft, potentially contributing to Europe’s capabilities in stealth technologies.
The work is being carried out by GTechPlasma, a spin-off from the Plasma and Nuclear Fusion Institute at Instituto Superior Técnico (IST) in Lisbon. The company has developed a plasma-based system for the production of graphene and related materials, enabling control over material properties at the atomic level. According to the team, the current focus is on radar-absorbing coatings capable of attenuating electromagnetic radiation, including radar waves. Such materials are of interest for defense applications, where reducing radar cross-section is a key factor in improving platform survivability.
GMG delivers its first bulk shipment of THERMAL-XR(R) to Nu Calgon in the USA
Graphene Manufacturing Group (GMG) has announced that it has shipped its first ever bulk order of THERMAL-XR® to its exclusive North American distributor, Nu Calgon Wholesaler, which is marketed and sold as "Nu-Calgon CoolWorx® powered by GMG® Graphene".
As previously disclosed, GMG is authorized to export, distribute, sell, use and dispose of graphene coating across multiple industries in the United States in accordance with its pre-manufacture notice P-25-0018.
GIT Coatings launches XGIT‑VORTEX graphene-based propeller coating
GIT Coatings has introduced XGIT‑VORTEX™, a new graphene-based propeller coating system for marine applications.
XGIT‑VORTEX is built on GIT’s Amphiphilic Graphene Nanonetwork (AGN) technology and is configured as a dedicated three-layer propeller system. The foul-release topcoat is designed to deter fouling attachment and keep propellers cleaner over time, while a reinforced mid‑coat acts as the structural layer to absorb cavitation stress and help reduce coating damage at blade edges and tips. Together with a low-friction surface, the system aims to maintain long-term propeller smoothness throughout the drydock cycle.
Sparc Technologies’ ecosparc graphene additive adopted by Petro Vietnam Paint
Sparc Technologies has announced that Petro Vietnam Paint will incorporate its ecosparc graphene additive into the company’s PERAPHENE range of steel protective coatings, targeting use in highly corrosive environments.
Petro Vietnam Paint’s decision follows both in‑house testing and third‑party validation, which reportedly showed improved anti‑corrosion performance compared to other graphene materials currently evaluated. The ecosparc‑enhanced PERAPHENE products are expected to become commercially available later this year for applications in marine, offshore, industrial and infrastructure markets.
GMG applies for additional environmental approvals to produce graphene in the U.S
Graphene Manufacturing Group (GMG) has announced that it has submitted an additional application to the United States Environmental Protection Agency ("EPA") for the manufacture and sale of graphene and graphene coatings (THERMAL-XR®), lubricants (G® LUBRICANT) and other graphene fluids in the United States. GMG expects to obtain this approval by the end of June 2027.
This application is in addition to the existing approval under PMN P-25-0018, which authorizes the Company to export, distribute, sell, use and dispose of graphene coatings across multiple industries in the United States.
