UK Paint Company Joins Polymer Project

FRIDAY, JANUARY 22, 2016


A coatings manufacturer in the UK has joined a European Union project to develop stronger and more flexible materials using graphene-reinforced thermosetting polymers.

HMG Paints Ltd., in Manchester, has teamed up with several other organizations on the PolyGraph Project, according to a company statement released earlier this month.

PolyGraph Details

PolyGraph is a four-year, collaborative research project that receives its grant funding from the European Union’s Seventh Framework Programme for research and technological development.

PolyGraph Project
HMG Paints Ltd., in Manchester, has teamed up with several other organizations on the PolyGraph Project, a team effort to develop industrial coatings and adhesives from graphene.
PolyGraph Project

HMG Paints Ltd., in Manchester, has teamed up with several other organizations on the PolyGraph Project, a team effort to develop industrial coatings and adhesives from graphene.

The project, which began in November 2013, aims to develop materials for industrial applications where improvements are needed in the strength; stiffness; toughness; electrical conductivity; and thermal and barrier properties of polymers. Those applications include fiber-reinforced composite resins, coatings and adhesives.

Target markets of PolyGraph include aerospace and automotive industries, according to the project’s website.

PolyGraph is working to develop a process in which graphene can be produced and dispersed “in-situ” within thermosetting polymer resins using relatively inexpensive, expanded graphite as a starting material, the company notes.

APV Engineered Coatings
Quikspray, Inc.

“We’re proud to be working alongside other industry leaders with a revolutionary material that was developed in our home city,” said Steve Crossman, HMG business development director. “We’re excited about developing graphene containing coating formulations and the production processes required to achieve these formulations.”

Project Partnerships

In addition to HMG—which is the 14th partner to join the project—PolyGraph includes industrial partners in each discipline required for a successful outcome to the project, according to the statement.

Just Like New Overspray Management
Modern Safety Techniques

The other partners are NetComposites; Imerys Graphite & Carbon; Avanzare Innovacion Tecnologica; YTRON Process Technology; University of Padova; SAIREM; Robnor Resins; NETZSCH Feinmahltechnik; Queen Mary University of London; Centro Ricerche Fiat; BAE Systems Advanced Technology Centre; SP Sveriges Tekniska Forskningsinstitut; and the Institute of Occupational Medicine.

©iStock.com / mikdam

Target markets for the project include aerospace and automotive, according to the PolyGraph Project's website.

“It is a pleasure to welcome HMG Paints into the PolyGraph project consortium,” said Matthew Thornton, project manager at the consortium’s lead partner, NetComposites.

Tarps manufacturing, Inc.
base painters

“Their breadth of knowledge and expertise in coatings will be an invaluable asset to ensuring that the project's aims and objectives are met and that the project continues on course to deliver commercial benefits for the aerospace, automotive, marine and defense sectors, amongst others.”

Tagged categories: Adhesive; Aerospace; Coating chemistry; Coating Materials; Coating types; Coatings; Coatings Technology; Grants; Graphene; HMG Paints Ltd.; Polymers; Project Management; Resins


Comments

Join the Conversation:

Sign in to add your comments.