TORONTO, May 2, 2023
/CNW/ - Black Swan Graphene Inc. ("Black Swan") (or the
"Company") (TSXV: SWAN) (OTCQB: BSWGF) (Frankfurt: R96) is
pleased to announce that the latest version of its GraphCore™001
graphene nanoplatelet material ("Graphcore") enhances the
composite abrasion resistance by a range of 60% to 80%, when used
as an additive in Thermoplastic Polyurethane ("TPU"). The
company had previously communicated an already enviable enhancement
performance of 45% in TPU with a 1% loading ratio (amount of
additive material added to a composite material, relative to the
amount of matrix material).
TPU is a thermoplastic elastomer combining some properties of
both plastic and rubber. It is tough, flexible, durable, and
resistant to abrasion as well as to oils and lubricants. This
unique combination of properties makes TPU ideally suitable for
various applications including in automotive, sports equipment,
textile coatings, and mobile handsets.
Simon Marcotte, President and
Chief Executive Officer of Black Swan Graphene, commented: "Today's
performance results serve as a reminder that graphene could
revolutionize the enormous polymer industry. In addition to
improving abrasion resistance, graphene offers meaningful benefits
such as weight reduction, cost savings, enhanced precision,
improved gas permeability, and increased thermal conductivity, all
of which can improve existing markets and pave the way for new
applications."
The manufacture of the composites, being the Graphcore-enhanced
TPU, and the subsequent testing, were carried out independently at
the Graphene Engineering Innovation Centre ("GEIC") located
at the University of Manchester, United
Kingdom. The precise type of TPU selected for the trials is
currently used in mobile equipment and extruded sheets, which are
generally used in many industries from packaging to transportation
and construction materials. The composites were manufactured via a
masterbatch and then moulded to carry out the tests, which were
based on loading ratios of 0.5%, 1.0%, and 1.5%.
The results, presented in the figure-1 below, show that all the
Graphcore-loaded composites demonstrated improvements in
performance compared to the pristine level.
The abrasion tests correspond to norm ISO 5470 - 1:2016 –
Taber
abrasion1. Three thousand (3,000) cycles were
carried out using standard abrasive wheels with 1,000 grams of
weight per wheel. The weight loss was recorded after each 1,000
cycles. Between each 1,000 cycles, the wheels were abraded with the
standard sandpaper to 50 cycles; sandpaper was changed for the
start of each new test.
Market perspectives
The current plastic additive market (and not the plastic market
itself) is estimated to be approximately USD $40 billion per year2. In its 2021
report3, The Graphene Council estimated that the
potential annual graphene requirements, when combining all
different types of polymers at a 5% loading ratio, would be 12.5
million tons of graphene.
About Black Swan Graphene
Inc.
Black Swan is focused on the large-scale production and
commercialization of patented high-performance and low-cost
graphene products aimed at several industrial sectors, including
concrete, polymers, Li-ion batteries, and others, which are
expected to require large volumes of graphene. Black Swan aims to
leverage the low cost and green hydroelectricity of the province of
Québec as well as the proximity of the province's emerging graphite
industry in order to establish an integrated supply chain, reduce
overall costs, and accelerate the deployment of graphene usage. On
March 27, 2023, Black Swan,
Nationwide Engineering Research and Development Ltd.
("NERD") and Arup Group Limited ("Arup") announced
strategic partnerships, establishing a fully integrated supply
chain and providing a turnkey solution for the construction and
concrete industries. Arup is a multinational engineering
consultancy headquartered in London,
United Kingdom, with 18,000 experts working across 140
countries. Black Swan's graphene processing technology was
developed by Thomas Swan & Co.
Ltd ("Thomas Swan") over the
last decade. Thomas Swan is a
United Kingdom-based global
chemicals manufacturer, with a century-long track record and has
been at the forefront of graphene innovation.
For more information, please visit:
www.blackswangraphene.com
Black Swan Graphene Inc. on behalf of the Board of
Directors
Simon
Marcotte, CFA, President & Chief Executive Officer
Neither TSX Venture Exchange nor its Regulation Services
Provider (as that term is defined in policies of the TSX Venture
Exchange) accepts responsibility for the adequacy or accuracy of
this release.
Forward-Looking
Information
The information contained herein contains "forward-looking
statements" within the meaning of applicable securities
legislation. Forward-looking statements relate to information that
is based on assumptions of management, forecasts of future results,
and estimates of amounts not yet determinable. Any statements that
express predictions, expectations, beliefs, plans, projections,
objectives, assumptions or future events or performance are not
statements of historical fact and may be "forward-looking
statements." Forward-looking statements are subject to a variety of
risks and uncertainties which could cause actual events or results
to differ from those reflected in the forward-looking statements,
including, without limitation: risks related to the TSXV listing,
risk related to the failure to obtain adequate financing on a
timely basis and on acceptable terms; risks related to the outcome
of legal proceedings; political and regulatory risks associated
with the industry; risks related to the maintenance of stock
exchange listings; risks related to environmental regulation and
liability; the potential for delays in development activities or
the completion of feasibility studies; the uncertainty of
profitability; risks related to the inherent uncertainty of
production and cost estimates and the potential for unexpected
costs and expenses; results of a scoping and feasibility studies,
and the possibility that future results will not be consistent with
the Company's expectations; risks related to commodity prices
fluctuations; and other risks and uncertainties related to the
Company's prospects, properties and business detailed elsewhere in
the Company's disclosure record. Should one or more of these risks
and uncertainties materialize, or should underlying assumptions
prove incorrect, actual results may vary materially from those
described in forward-looking statements. Furthermore, performance
results of graphene products as additives can vary widely depending
on type and the specificity of the target material, the specifics
of the graphene product itself, including but not limited to,
carbon purity, particle size, surface agent, dispersion behavior,
and application and usage methods. Investors are cautioned against
attributing undue certainty to forward-looking statements and
initial test results. These forward-looking statements and test
results are made as of the date hereof and the Company does not
assume any obligation to update or revise them to reflect new
events or circumstances, except in accordance with applicable
securities laws. Actual events or results could differ materially
from the Company's expectations or projections.
___________
|
1 This norm
complies with the following ISO sustainability targets: Goal 9:
Industry, Innovation, and Infrastructure: Build resilient
infrastructure, promote inclusive and sustainable industrialization
and foster innovation - Goal 12: Responsible Consumption and
Production: Ensure sustainable consumption and production
patterns.
2
https://www.emergenresearch.com/industry-report/plastic-additives-market
3
https://www.thegraphenecouncil.org/page/TheGrapheneReport
|
View original content to download
multimedia:https://www.prnewswire.com/news-releases/black-swans-graphene-product-increases-abrasion-resistance-by-as-much-as-80-in-thermoplastic-polyurethane-301813065.html
SOURCE Black Swan Graphene Inc