Major Demonstration of Novel Graphene Enhanced Chemistry for Aerospace Industry

Partners in a recently completed UK government funded NATEP technology program- Composite Tooling and Engineering Solutions Ltd (CTES), SHD Composites Ltd (SHD) and Applied Grapheme Materials plc (AGM) - have subsequently made a significant step forward in demonstrating the viability of an exciting new materials development that has the clear potential to offer significant time and cost savings to aerospace composite tool designers. SHD, working closely with the project partners, has developed a prototype tooling material that combines cure at initial low temperatures (80-90°C), with the ability to be post-cured to achieve a maximum service temperature in excess of 300°C. The tooling resin chemistry has been enhanced by the addition of AGM’s A-GNP35 graphene nanoplatelets. Over coming weeks, the project team will be disseminating more details through industry forums, however the outcome was very successful, delivering a fully functional composite tool and demonstrating the potential for significantly lower costs, while maintaining the highest performance. Although the new materials technology remains at the prototype/prove-out stage, the project partners are already actively engaged with interested parties keen to access the benefits of the system. As well as proving out production robustness, development work has also progressed to the processing of the material “out of autoclave”, as well as the potential for applications in prototype tooling for high performing thermoplastic materials. For identifying growth opportunities in the global graphene market, please visit https://www.lucintel.com/graphene-market.aspx