Advanced materials company, First Graphene and Flinders University have launched a new nanoScience firm that will manufacture clean and super-strength carbon materials for the plastics and the electronics industry.
The new company, called 2D Fluidics, is jointly owned by First Graphene and Flinders University’s newly named Flinders Institute for NanoScale Science and Technology.
It will initially focus on commercialising the Vortex Fluidic Device (VFD), which enables new approaches to producing a wide range of materials such as graphene and sliced carbon nanotubes, with the bonus of not needing to use harsh or toxic chemicals in the manufacturing process.
Flinders Institute for NanoScale Science and Technology Professor Colin Raston, who invented the VFD, said this clean processing breakthrough will also greatly reduce the cost and improve the efficiency of manufacturing these new high quality super-strength carbon materials.
“The VFD is a game changer for many applications across the sciences, engineering and medicine, and the commercialisation of the device will have a big impact in the research and teaching arena,” the Professor continued.
“Nano-carbon materials can replace metals in many products, as a new paradigm in manufacturing, and the commercial availability of such materials by 2D Fludics will make a big impact.”
“It also has exciting possibilities in industry for low cost production where the processing is under continuous flow, which addresses scaling up – often a bottleneck issue in translating processes into industry.”
2D Fluidics’ key intellectual property comprises two patents around the production of carbon nanomaterials, assigned by Flinders University.
First Graphene’s Managing Director, Craig McGuckin said Fluidics will use the VFD to prepare these materials for commercial sales, which will be used in the plastics industry, the electronics industry and for research laboratories around the world.
“First Graphene is very pleased to be partnering Professor Raston and his team in 2D Fluidics, which promises to open an exciting growth path in the world of advanced materials production,” Mr McGuckin added.
“Access to this remarkably versatile invention will complement FGRs position as the leading graphene company at the forefront of the graphene revolution.”
According to the press release by First Graphene, 2D Fluidics will also manufacture the VFD, which is expected to become an in-demand state-of-the-art research and teaching tool for thousands of universities worldwide.
