Graphene composites: introduction and market status - Page 2

Graphene Composites USA (GC USA) has announced that its ultralight GC Patrol Shield® has become "the first and only rifle-rated ballistic shield to pass and receive third-party verification for rifle and shotgun rounds under the ASTM E3347-25 standard (Standard Specification for Ballistic-Resistant Shields Used by Law Enforcement Officers)".

Third-Party verified edge-shot protection and real-world durability at half the weight of conventional shields could have great potential for Law Enforcement safety.

Researchers from Monash University and the University of Melbourne have developed a solvent-free, one-pot mechanochemical process that produces nitrogen-doped graphene nanoplatelets (N-GNPs) using glycine, a naturally occurring amino acid, as the nitrogen source. This process combines graphite, glycine, and potassium hydroxide in a planetary ball mill, where glycine enables simultaneous exfoliation and nitrogen incorporation at ambient temperature and pressure, requiring no harsh post-treatment.

This addresses known challenges standing before the successful development of processable, high-performance graphene-based materials. Traditional methods for nitrogen doping - such as high-temperature chemical vapor deposition or toxic wet-chemical reduction - often compromise environmental safety or electrical performance. The new mechanochemical route achieves both: high yield (∼80%) and strong electrical conductivity (roughly 30% that of pristine graphite) paired with long-term colloidal stability across diverse solvents.

Graphite India Limited (“GIL”), one of India’s oldest and largest graphite materials companies, and Kivoro, a corporate spin-off of Graphenea and an innovator in graphene-based industrial additives, signed an Exclusive Distribution and Commercial Partnership Agreement to bring Kivoro’s graphene-based Heat Transfer Additive (HTA) technology to the Indian corrugated paperboard industry.

Under the agreement, GIL becomes the exclusive distributor of Kivoro’s Heat Transfer Additive across the Republic of India, focusing on deployment within the corrugated paperboard sector - a fast-growing, efficiency-driven industry where thermal performance improvements can significantly reduce energy consumption and costs.

Perpetuus Advanced Materials has introduced an amine functionalized graphene material as a potential replacement for 6PPD (6-para-phenylene-diamine) antioxidants in tires. Using plasma-functionalized graphene nanoplatelets (GNPs), Perpetuus claims the masterbatches can entirely replace 6PPD in rubber formulations, thereby preventing the formation of harmful 6PPDQ by-products.

The masterbatch covers over 90% of the dry-mix ingredients used in tire production, replacing several process oils and additives, improving workplace air quality while keeping mixing simple, said the UK company.

NanoXplore has announced it has entered into an exclusive, long-term supply agreement with Club Car, a leading name in the recreational products industry.

This partnership will support the production of graphene-enhanced, high-performance solutions. The addition of Club Car to NanoXplore's customer portfolio marks a milestone in the Company’s diversification strategy, the Company stated, expanding its reach and revenue opportunities beyond its traditional focus in the transportation sector.

First Graphene has completed its first industrial-scale supply of its graphene-enhanced PureGRAPH 10 masterbatch for thermoplastic polyurethane (TPU) applications. The shipment included 500 kg and is destined for integration into safety-work boot soles by Southeast Asian manufacturer PT Alasmas Berkat Utama, in collaboration with compounder Duromer.

On 1 July 2025, the company disclosed two orders totaling approximately AUD 165,000 (around USD 110,000) of PureGRAPH product, including the TPU masterbatch for high-wear applications, and noted that volumes will begin to feed into FY26. According to the recent announcement, the masterbatch will help extend polymer durability in harsh operating conditions and integrate into existing thermoplastic production lines without requiring processing changes.

Researchers from Shanghai Jiao Tong University and Shanghai Electric Power Generation Equipment have developed a multilayer graphene-based thermally conductive and electrically insulating tape (MTCEIT) that achieves a combination of lateral heat spreading capability and dielectric integrity for compact, high-power electronic systems. 

The continuous miniaturization of integrated devices, accompanied by exponentially increasing power densities, imposes stringent requirements on thermal interface materials (TIMs) that must efficiently dissipate heat while providing strong electrical insulation within submillimeter thickness constraints. Conventional polymer composites and ceramic-filled films struggle to meet these competing demands, typically exhibiting in-plane thermal conductivities below 70 W m⁻¹ K⁻¹ once their thickness exceeds 200 µm. To overcome this limitation, the MTCEIT integrates graphene paper - a stacked and compressed assembly of two-dimensional graphene sheets - as a high-efficiency lateral heat spreading layer. 

According to reports, Perpetuus Advanced Materials, following the successful launch of its sustainable graphene-enhanced natural rubber masterbatch, had announced a joint venture with Asiatic Rubber.

This partnership marks a milestone in the commercial deployment of its advanced elastomer technologies across India and Asia. The new venture includes a comprehensive upgrade of Asiatic’s existing manufacturing facility to produce graphene, natural rubber carbon black masterbatch. This material is currently under evaluation by several of India’s leading multinational tire producers.

Graphene producer HydroGraph and SEADAR Technologies, developers of subsea radar systems, have signed a letter of intent to integrate HydroGraph’s graphene materials and coating technologies into SEADAR’s current and future undersea products.

The letter of intent describes how HydroGraph and SEADAR will collaborate to explore technical synergies that enhance performance for SEADAR products, positioning both companies to expand into new markets, such as maritime defense and offshore energy.

Researchers from China's Guizhou University, Liupanshui Normal University and Moutai Institute have developed a composite combining needle-shaped Nickel Metal-Organic Framework (Ni-MOF) with graphene (GR), to enhance lithium-ion battery anodes by addressing conductivity and structural stability challenges. 

The integration of graphene reportedly boosts conductivity by eight orders of magnitude and improves charge transfer, leading to remarkable electrochemical performance, including higher capacity, better rate capability, and superior cycling stability compared to pristine Ni-MOF.