Broadway is introducing GrapheneXcel, a new range of graphene-enhanced masterbatches. This launch is the result of strategic partnerships with leading graphene suppliers. It enables the ISO-certified, UK masterbatch specialist to bring the numerous advantages of graphene to a diverse customer base within plastic manufacturing.
GrapheneXcel leverages the unique properties of graphene to improve the performance of polymers used across many industries, including automotive, defence, packaging, and consumer goods. The benefits include significant improvements in strength and durability, as well as improved barrier properties and the opportunity for product lightweighting.
GrapheneXcel is a made to order additive masterbatch, with formulations customised to meet individual customer requirements. Thanks to polymer-specific carrier systems, GrapheneXcel offers compatibility with a range of polymers including polyolefins and PET.
What is graphene?
Graphene was discovered just 20 years ago at the University of Manchester. This remarkable material has rapidly gained attention for its extraordinary properties. Like diamond and graphite, graphene is composed entirely of carbon. However, uniquely, it consists of just a single layer of carbon atoms arranged in a honeycomb nanostructure. This arrangement includes numerous double bonds, contributing to its exceptional characteristics.
Graphene’s atomic structure gives it unparalleled strength– as a single layer it’s the strongest material ever measured, boasting a tensile strength 200 times greater than that of steel. This offers immense potential to a range of industries, including plastic manufacturing.
What are the benefits of use in plastics?
Broadway now brings the benefits of graphene into plastic manufacturing, via GrapheneXcel – their new range of graphene-enhanced masterbatches. Even at low addition rates, the incorporation of graphene into plastics can dramatically enhance the performance of the material, providing improved strength, durability and versatility.
Different forms of graphene offer different qualities. Thanks to partnerships with leading suppliers, Broadway is able to provide cost-efficient, customised variations of GrapheneXcel – tailored to deliver the specific advantages each customer requires.
Here’s a summary of the key benefits:
Improved mechanical strength and impact resistance
GrapheneXcel significantly increases the tensile strength of plastics, making moulded components much stronger and more durable. This is especially important in applications where durability and safety are paramount, such as in automotive parts and protective packaging. Typically, in polypropylene (PP) and polyethylene (PE) applications, the addition of graphene at a loading of just 0.2% – 0.5% can result in a 10% – 20% improvement in impact resistance and tensile strength.
