- First Graphene (FGR) files a patent with the UK Intellectual Property Office to scale-up the use of graphene-enhanced cement admixtures
- According to FGR, studies have shown adding graphene nanoplatelets to cement mortar can enhance its strength, but it comes with the potential to be being unevenly distributed
- First Graphene’s PureGRAPH formulas have shown it may be able to produce the admixtures needed to rectify the distribution issues with the cement or concrete
- FGR says the patent marks a step forward in commercialising graphene-enhanced cement and concrete as well as expanding into a major global market
- Company shares are trading steady at 21.5 cents
First Graphene (FGR) has filed a patent specification with the UK Intellectual Property Office for graphene use in cement production.
The patent describes a novel method of scaling up the production of graphene suspensions for use in cement additives and concrete admixtures.
FGR said studies of cement mortar — a workable paste that hardens to bind building blocks — have shown that adding less than 0.1 per cent of graphene nanoplatelets can significantly enhance the mortar’s properties.
Effectively incorporating graphene additives has proven to enhance the compressive and tensile strength of concrete by 34 and 27 per cent, respectively.
However, a challenge associated with the graphene nanomaterials is they have a tendency to collect, which leads to them being unevenly distributed within the cement or concrete.
According to First Graphene, the solution to this is to use water-based admixtures that contain pre-dispersed graphene nanoplatelets. The company said recent tests and field trials have shown its PureGRAPH products, when used in conjunction with other methods, may produce the admixtures in a consistent way.
Managing Director and CEO Michael Bell commented on the patent.
“Given the growth in interest for utilising graphene to enhance the mechanical properties and therefore improve sustainability credentials of cement and concrete products, the patent filing is designed to protect the intellectual property for PureGRAPH formulations for the company, its customers and development partners.”
First Graphene said the patent marks a significant step forward in commercialising graphene-enhanced cement and concrete as well as expanding into a major global market.
Company shares were trading steady at 21.5 cents at 1:54 pm AEDT.