11 minute read
SPOTLIGHT
COULD GRAPHENE UPGRADE THE FASTENER BUSINESS?
When it comes to the applications of wonder material graphene, the surface has only just been scratched. First Graphene is one of those developing the material for industrial uses, with implications for the fastener, tool and related industries…
After First Graphene Limited pioneered a world‐first process to produce wonder material graphene at high volume and consistent quality, the company has focused on a broad range of industrial applications. Graphene has the potential for use in coatings, composites and concretes and qual‐ities that are bound to widen the eyes of those in the fastener and fixings business, including corrosion resistance and anti‐vibration properties, as well as considerable advantages in lubrication and the extension of wear life. It seems highly likely graphene will come to play a bigger part in the industry, across many sectors.
WHAT IS GRAPHENE?
Graphene is the thinnest material ever isolated. It consists of single layers of carbon atoms arranged in a hexagonal network, and this unique structure gives rise to a range of outstanding physical properties, including:
Strength > 200 times stronger than steel at the same thickness Flexibility > Can stretch up to an additional 20 per cent of its length Barrier > Completely impermeable, even to helium gas Electrical conductivity > More than 1 million times more conductive than copper Thermal conductivity > Up to 5,000W/mK (watts per metre‐kelvin) in all directions, compared to around 400W/mK for copper Highly transparent > Due to its single layer properties, graphene only absorbs about 2.3 per cent of visible light
With such properties, graphene can be a highly valuable addi‐tive to enhance a broad range of materials.
GRAPHENE BACKGROUND
Graphene was first isolated in 2004 by scientists at the Univer‐sity of Manchester, however production of commercial volumes was hampered for many years due to difficulties in producing consistent size product. That was until First Graphene Limited developed a proprietary process, using high purity graphite, that enabled precise control over production quality. The company markets a range of prod‐ucts for various applications under the PureGRAPH®brand. Another key challenge for graphene manufacturers is how to adequately disperse graphene through various materials. First Graphene has carried out extensive research and devel‐opment to devise various methods and now provide Pure‐GRAPH®in a range of formats including powders and pastes, as well as a newly released pelletised masterbatch product specifically for use in thermoplastics. The company has the capability to produce 100 tonnes of its graphene products a year from a manufacturing facility in Western Australia, and has the capability to quickly scale up as demand increases.
USES
Initially, the focus of graphene research was centred on high‐tech applications such as precision electronics and the aerospace industry. However, with the ability to manufacture consistent quality product at volume, First Graphene has shifted its focus to a broad range of industrial applications including >
Coatings
Anti-corrosion for steel and aluminium
Fire retardant coatings
Low friction coatings
Anti-static and electrical conductive coatings
Wear resistant coatings
Weathering resistance
EMI shielding
Elastomers
Wear linings in mining
Specialist footwear
Abrasive resistant PU wear products
Rubber mats
Conveyor belting
Pipe linings
Miscellaneous wear components
Composites
Swimming pools
Surfboards
Construction parts
Automotive parts
Aeronautical applications
Boats
Wind turbines (blades and components)
Concrete/Cement
Cement production – in particular for lower clinker factor cements and products
Concrete
Concrete products such as blocks, tiles, pavers
Bagged cement products such as grouts, mortars, renders, flooring screeds, repair compounds
ANTI-CORROSION APPLICATIONS
Due to its impermeability, graphene offers exceptional benefits for anti‐corrosion and as a general protective barrier. In some cases, graphene enhanced coatings such as paints and lubricants are used, while in others the graphene is dispersed into resins. First Graphene already works with end‐user customers that manufacture a range of fire‐retardant paints, PPE, swimming pools and boats, while advanced R&D is underway to manufac‐ture wind turbine blades, linings for pipes and a range of other multi‐application paints and similar coatings.
ANTI-VIBRATION PROPERTIES
To date, First Graphene customers have focused on overcom‐ing vibration issues by focusing on the tensile and flexural strength of graphene‐enhanced components.
WEIGHT REDUCTION
Reduction of weight is another key outcome of incorporating graphene into a range of materials, and many of the key bene‐fits can be realised with very small additions of PureGRAPH® . As an example, swimming pool manufacturer Aqua Leisure Technologies recently released its PureGRAPH® enenhanced range of Graphene Nano‐Tech pools which the company says are 30 per cent lighter, 30% stronger and significantly more resistant to water and chemical permeability.
FIRE RESISTANCE
Graphene also has highly effective, non‐toxic fire‐retardant properties, a pertinent topic following tragedies like that of the Grenfell Tower fire in 2017. Efforts to lower risks associated with fire include coating materials with fire‐retardant agents. Unfortunately, the agents available to date have drawbacks:
Toxicity to the environment – especially in soil and water Toxicity to people – which may include mutagenic and carcinogenic effects Limited effectiveness
First Graphene partnered with a team at the University of Adelaide in South Australia to find an environmentally friendly and more effective fire‐retardant solution. The result was a coating formulation, based on Pure‐GRAPH® graphene products, which is now branded as FireStop™. This is a graphene paint which was developed specifically for the protection of timber and can be sprayed or brushed on to surfaces. PureGRAPH® can also enhance fire retardant composites when used as an additive. Scientific studies have shown that graphene additives operate in a unique way, acting as an effective gas barrier and transporting heat away from the flame, slowing initial burning and preventing re‐ignition. Graphene is synergistic and can be used to enhance existing fire retardancy packages in coatings, resins and foams. This means that graphene flame retardants can act alone or add further performance to existing materials, including FRP composites.
LUBRICANTS
Considerable research has shown graphene to be an exceptional dry lubricant as well as a highly beneficial additive to oil and grease. There are several reasons for this:
As an atoms-thick material, graphene enters frictionprone areas easily Due to its thermal conductiveness, graphene is not impacted by temperature variations As a carbon-based material, graphene disperses easily and evenly in oil, grease and similar lubricants
OTHER USES
The benefits of graphene across common industrial applications are only starting to be realised and understood, however there is evidence across current uses to indicate a range of potential benefits for the fastener and fixing industries. This includes:
Enhanced wear life Increased tensile and flexural strength Reduced weight Superior electrical and thermal conductivity Better performance under temperature variations
INDUSTRY INQUIRIES
First Graphene welcomes inquiries from industry and investors. In the first instance, anyone interested can check contact details on the website at firstgraphene.net/contact or email via info@firstgraphene.net.
www.firstgraphene.net
With an enviable professional engineering heritage behind it, Action Can has introduced its clever TwinSpray valve tech to seven of its core products, creating a ‘toolkit-essential’ line-up for engineers and professionals – as well as distributors and trade counters…
Action Can has a professional engineering heritage that spans back to 1965 and over that time has earned a reputation for reliability and performance. Now, Action Can’s handy TwinSpray products, first launched with its popular multi‐purpose lubricant AC‐90, has been introduced to a further six aerosols. Designed as a straightforward range where you don’t have to read a dozen technical data sheets to select the correct product, the 7‐strong TwinSpray range are true toolkit‐essentials for professionals. “You choose your tools for the job,” Kieran Neale, Action Can Marketing Manager, tells Torque Magazine. “Action Can isn’t a consumer product: it is designed, formulated and made in‐house for professional and mobile engineers. It’s the premium ‘grab‐and‐go’ product. Engineers need something that works and is reliable – they don’t want a call from a job and have to return and sort something out. Our users like the peace of mind and reassurance of our professional engineer‐ing heritage and in‐house manufacturing.”
REOPENING-READY, IMPULSE-BUY POS
Action Can has been carefully revamping the look of its prod‐ucts, perhaps most notably with application images on the cans that highlight what each product is for, at a glance, with the sprays also sporting that familiar chevron logo. The look of a product has of course always been important, and it’s no less the case for online web shops, explains Neale: “If you walk past a shelf of products you still need something to catch your attention. It’s no different online. If you search for ‘lubricating oil with PTFE’ you will see a list of thumbnail images. Action Can products look just as good on the virtual shelf as on the trade counter shelf. Action Can has been developing its Point of Sale (PoS) offer for trade counters focused around its professional‐grade multi‐purpose oil ‘AC‐90’, and the ‘TwinSpray’ range. “We have the merchandising POS and literature options available for distrib‐utors to really generate that impulse buy,” enthuses Neale. “These ‘reopening ready’ POS options including a robust metal rack with side panels that feature the twin spray range; it only takes up 1 ft² yet is 6 ft high for big impact”. Another floor‐standing display unit is specifically for AC‐90 – the best‐selling multi‐purpose lubricant. With full graphic front and sides, its effectiveness was seen in 2019 when it was launched with a big‐name trade distributor, when sales increased 300% over two months. Finally, there is a smaller counter‐top option to be placed near the order point. Likewise, digital POS is available too, says Neale: “We’re seeing greater adoption of digital, you can have the digital equivalent of POS. We have a design team geared up to help maximise our visibility and push sales through our stockists. Distributors should get in touch to talk through the options.”
PANDEMIC, PRODUCTION LINES & GLOBAL BACKING
While Action Can is resolutely UK and Ireland‐focused, it has a significant following in Europe – Scandinavia & Greece in particular – and even further afield, in New Zealand. Acquired by CRC UK in 2016, Action Can is part of the wider CRC Industries group. Headquartered in Pennsylvania, USA; global aerosol manufacturing specialist CRC has production sites in the UK, Belgium, South Africa, New Zealand and Australia. Being part of a global aerosol manu‐facturer has had its benefits, particularly through the turbu‐lence of Covid and Brexit. “When Covid began to impact, we looked back to the
THE CORE ACTION CAN TWIN-SPRAY RANGE
AC90 – Multi-Purpose Lubricant CT-90 – Cutting & Tapping Lubricant Dry PTFE – Dry Film Lubricant RP-90 – Rapid Penetrating Oil SL-90 – Lubricating Oil with PTFE SP-90 – Silicone Lubricant Spray TF-90 – Fast Drying Cleaning Solvent
There's a range of POS options for the TwinSpray range, from countertops and floor-standers to digital POS
financial crash in 2009 to try and understand how indus‐try may be affected. Back then, we saw people buying more of our products, not less. Production lines had stopped running so engineers embraced the opportunity for large‐scale repair and maintenance. When stopping your production line costs £16,000 an hour, you only shut it when you have a critical failing or for carefully scheduled and planned maintenance. “That didn’t happen this time; production lines were still affected but with different constraints – for example, reduced numbers of people and social distancing. There were fewer opportunities to get on site and tear things down this time. So, the two events both had a big impact on busi‐ness but had two remarkably different outcomes based on restrictions and government legislation.” On the topic of returning to normality, Action Can can’t wait for the return of trade shows (“the sales team are champing at the bit!”) and will be at events from September, assuming restrictions don’t drastically change before then.
“CROSS SALES ARE VITAL FOR DISTRIBUTORS”
The cross‐selling potential of Action Can’s 7‐strong Twin‐Spray range represents a big opportunity for trade counters and distributors, explains Neale. “Aerosols provide added value to every transaction –people don’t tend to stop just for an aerosol spray yet they are often required to complete the job: whether a solvent degreaser, a lubricant or anti‐corrosion product.” That’s a key message for both trade counters and users ‘Don’t forget the solutions and sprays’. “Remind customers when they come in for drill bits that they are probably going to want a cutting oil. Or if they come in for a power tool, they are probably going to want AC‐90 spray as well. Not only does this ensure the customer gets everything they need in one visit; the average transaction value for the distributor is lifted. If you can add it for 50, 60 or 100 customers, there is a significant turnover contribution that was not there before: with reduced footfall, distributors should maximise every sale, including PPE. It just makes sense.” Action Can’s slogan summarises its products and approach to market perfectly: “In the right hands, Action Can is a power tool. If you think of high spec tools for the serious professional and engineer, think Action Can.” It’s an easy to identify, easy to select, high confidence product range that meets all their requirements for any given job.
