A 12 month Innovate UK project called GRADIS (Graphene Dispersion in Polymers) was successfully completed in April 2019. The object of this project was to employ Maelstrom mixing technology to examine the viability of exfoliating graphite into graphene directly within a viscous polymer matrix.
Maelstrom's pilot-scale UML Ultramixer, an inline mixer with a built-in extrusion capability, was used to incorporated high purity graphite from a metered feed into a range of common rubber compounds. The resulting materials were examined under electron and optical microscopes and a high degree of graphite delamination was observed. Since the project ended, testing has continued on the bulk properties of the materials and results are being shared with participating materials companies.
