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Why graphene?

First isolated and characterised by professors Andre Geim
and Konstantin Novoselov from the University of Manchester in
2004, graphene is a tightly packed layer of carbon atoms bonded
together in a hexagonal honeycomb lattice.
At just one atom in thickness, graphene is the thinnest material
known. It is 200 times stronger than steel, has an electrical
conductivity one million times that of copper and outperforms
diamond in terms of its thermal conductivity.
Graphene has a surface area even larger than that of the activated
carbon used to coat the plates of traditional supercapacitors,
enabling better electrostatic charge storage. Graphene-based
supercapacitors can store almost as much energy as lithium-ion
batteries, charge and discharge in seconds and maintain these
properties through tens of thousands of charging cycles.
In addition, graphene-based supercapacitors are lighter, more
deformable and can be stronger than their counterparts based on
activated carbon.

Promotion of the company’s strategy is just one aspect of what
is shaping as a busy year ahead for First Graphene with the team
also putting a priority on bedding down a number of promising
sales contracts.
In the last six months the company has signed separate supply
agreements with planarTECH (Holdings) Ltd and Aquatic Leisure “We’ve concentrated on the large potential usage areas like the
Technologies for 1 mtpa and 2.5 mtpa of PureGRAPH® powders, polyurethanes, the thermoplastics, the glass composites, rubbers,
respectively. concrete where you can get multiple tonnage contracts because that’s
Both contracts came on the back of First Graphene announcing it had entered what will ultimately turn you into a business that makes money.
into a landmark partnership with prolific work boot brand Steel Blue last “So, yes, there has been some fatigue, but you have to remember that
November. First Graphene has only seriously been making graphene for 2.5 years in
“COVID has naturally delayed some of these sales programmes, however, Henderson and probably even less than that in tonnage quantities.”
sales agreements have been signed and will eventuate in the latter end of this First Graphene remains a Tier 1 partner of the Graphene Engineering &
year,” McGuckin says. Innovation Centre in Manchester, UK, where most of the company’s high-
“Steel Blue will be bringing out a PureGRAPH® branded boot later in the year, end science and R&D is carried out.
something that will be a huge step change in safety boot wear. Probably the McGuckin believes it is only be a matter of time before the company’s
first one will introduce our graphene in the scuff cap and then it will work its product offering becomes the first-choice selection for the diverse range
way into the sole and into the metatarsal guard and then eventually maybe of industries it can service.
into a composite cap to replace the steel cap which we think will lighten the “We’ve put ourselves up there with probably three other companies in the
boot up by around 250g.” world for graphene manufacture and that’s something we should be very
First Graphene continues to evaluate opportunities to optimise the use of proud of, especially in this climate where everyone is talking about the
graphene in a range of composites, elastomers and rubbers and, in more importance of local manufacture and supporting manufacture which is
recent times, concrete. Australian made,” he says.
The company confirmed via a technical paper in August that graphene “It’s also worth pointing out that we don’t see the Henderson facility as
additives improve strength, reduce materials usage and potentially increase being the end point; we strongly believe this is just the starting point
longevity of some cement grouts and concrete. because we have proof of concept of large scale production here at
Last month the company also reported that successful laboratory and Henderson that we believe will lead into future factories than can do
commercial-scale testing supported the integration of PureGRAPH® in the thousands of tonnes.
rubber compounds of mining screen media and wear-liner materials. Futures “We don’t see any reason why a factory of the future won’t have the
testing will look at improved dispersion and fire-retardancy aspects. capacity to do 1,000 tpa or even 10,000 tpa.”
First Graphene’s achievements come at a time when graphene is anything
but the flavour of the month. While McGuckin acknowledged that interest in
the sector has waned somewhat, he highlighted that there was still plenty of
support from investors who have closely followed graphene’s development in
recent years. First Graphene Ltd (ASX: FGR)
“Considering it was only first isolated in 2004 and there’s been close to €1 1 Sepia Close, Henderson WA 6166 +61 1300 660 448
billion spent in the UK and EU with the graphene flagship, to say there’s been a
fatigue coming into the marketplace would be fair, but that’s not unusual with Web: www.firstgraphene.net Email: info@firstgraphene.net
a new product,” McGuckin says. Twitter: @First_Graphene
“It’s important to remember that there are many types of graphene and one Key people: Warwick Grigor (non-executive chairman), Craig
type of graphene won’t do everything, so you have to be mindful of that. What McGuckin (managing director), Peter Youd (executive director, chief
we’ve been concentrating on is areas of large usage. There’s no point just financial officer & company secretary), Dr Andy Goodwin (senior
concentrating on sensors, for instance, because 1kg will do 500,000 sensors scientific advisor & non-executive director), Paul Ladislaus (chief
and there’s no business model in that. technology officer), Neil Armstrong (senior process manager)