XG Sciences and Oak Ridge National Laboratory launch joint-development program for advanced titanium/graphene composite materials
November 14, 2012
XG Sciences, Inc. recently launched a joint program with Oak Ridge National Laboratory (ORNL) to develop a titanium-graphene composite using an advanced powder metallurgy manufacturing process.
Titanium is an important structural material for a variety of industrial, commercial, and military applications due to its light weight, high strength, and corrosion resistance. However, utilisation of titanium in many applications is limited due to its low thermal conductivity. Graphene-based materials, with excellent thermal conductivity, would be a perfect reinforcement material for improving both thermal and mechanical properties of titanium.
xGnP® nanoplatelets are nano-thin but can be over
50 microns wide
XG Sciences state they have the capability to mass-produce graphene nanoplatelets in high volume, while ORNL has unique capabilities for low-temperature powder metal processing. Together, the two organizations see exciting opportunities to create advanced titanium-graphene composites.
“Graphene is an exciting new material with huge potentials due to its fast electron mobility, high mechanical strength, and excellent thermal conductivity. Metal-matrix composites are an area that has not been explored in depth, but offers a very large potential market opportunity. We are glad to partner with Oak Ridge National Lab and utilize their Manufacturing Demonstration Facility to advance the graphene-based material technologies and help maintain the competitive advantages of the United States in developing and manufacturing high-tech products,” stated Dr Liya Wang, Vice President of Research and Development at XG Sciences. The program is jointly supported by XG Sciences and the US Department of Energy.
“ORNL is pleased to have the opportunity to work with XG Sciences to bring new materials technology closer to reality and introduction in the marketplace. With a long-standing history in materials development and the recently commissioned advanced processing capabilities at ORNL’s Manufacturing Demonstration Facility, we are certain that this will be a successful collaboration,” added Dr Stephen Nunn, Senior Research and Development Staff Member at ORNL.
Posted by: Paul Whittaker, Editor ipmd.net, [email protected]
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