Member Article

Base oil breakthrough for Teesside graphene production specialists

Redcar-based Applied Graphene Materials, the producer of specialty graphene materials, has reported positive preliminary findings following independent performance testing, undertaken by BfB Oil Research in Belgium, on base oils enhanced using graphene produced by the company.

Base oils are used in a wide range of industries including the manufacture of lubricating greases, motor oils and metal processing fluids.

BfB’s initial results demonstrate that low loading levels of the Group’s graphene nanoplatelets, within base oils, reduce friction and the wear of metal surfaces. This opens up the route to further development for commercial applications in numerous high performance oils and greases, opening up potential sales opportunities for the Teesside company.

Applied Graphene Materials will be sharing the findings of the BfB test programme with its tribology and lubrication industry partners and will also be engaging with other interested parties at the Global Tribology Oil and Lubrication (STLE) Exhibition in Dallas, Texas, between 17 May and 20 May 2015.

Jon Mabbitt, Chief Executive Officer, said: “Following on from our recent positive independent coatings trial results, it is pleasing to now receive BfB Oil Research’s initial findings on graphene enhanced base oils which indicate that these positive results can be translated to higher volume applications.

“With a scalable manufacturing process, our growing library of test data and a strong technical team, Applied Graphene Materials is well placed to help its customers apply and exploit graphene in their end products and markets.”

Michael Boucher, BfB’s Technical Manager, said: “The results from our test work are very instructive and show that Applied Graphene Materials’ well dispersed graphene nanoplatelets offer the potential for significant property improvements in oils and greases. We look forward to continuing to support Applied Graphene Materials’ ongoing development work.”

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