London-listed Tirupati Graphite has entered into a research collaboration agreement with the Department of Material Sciences and Engineering at Monash University, in Victoria, Australia, to develop commercial applications for a range of graphene products in raw and recycled polymer nanocomposites and dispersions.
The agreement will focus on conducting research focused on enhancing the thermal, electrical and mechanical properties of various polymers and preparation of dispersions for developing a range of commercial products.
Products will include graphene dispersions, conductive or high-strength polymers, as well as plastic railway sleepers, smart skin and performance coatings, and recyclability.
The research will further the previous findings from research conducted by Tirupati adviser Dr Matthieu Gresil, using rGO, which established substantial improvements in target polymer properties using rGO with formation of stable homogeneous composite.
The collaboration complements Tirupati’s internal research in advanced materials and composites using Monash’s extensive capabilities in polymer and plastic nanocomposites with targeted product development for applications in defence, transportation, and construction industries.
The company will own all the intellectual property outcomes from the collaboration with Monash retaining liberty for use in academic publication and further research purposes.
“The success of this research collaboration will further extend our product offering, which includes the entire gambit of primary flake and speciality graphite, graphene and advanced materials, and boost/diversify our revenue streams,” says Tirupati CEO Shishir Poddar.