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Cars are a natural fit for graphene: manufacturers want parts that are lighter, last longer and protect better, without changing how those parts are made. Graphene is usually added in small amounts to materials automakers and suppliers already use, such as polymers, coatings, lubricants and fluids.
Where we've already put graphene into automotive products
Car care. Our first client was ITW, the company behind the Rain-X and Black Magic brands. Working with ITW's engineering team, we developed four graphene-enhanced car care products that reached store shelves:
- Rain-X Graphene Spray Wax
- Rain-X Graphene Exterior Detailer
- Black Magic Intense Graphene Quick Detailer
- Black Magic Intense Graphene Tire Shine
Lubricants. A graphene-integrated lubricant formulation reduced wear by up to 42% and raised weld load by 26% in independent testing at Univar's Houston lab. We work with leading chemical distributors, including Nano Technology Chemicals (NTC). NTC combines orders across its clients to secure bulk pricing most companies can't get on their own, and passes the savings directly to customers. Read the lubrication press release.
Other automotive areas being explored with graphene
The areas below are being researched and developed across the industry. They are not claims about our products.
- Polymer composites: small additions of graphene can raise stiffness and strength in plastics and fiber-reinforced parts, which can support lighter components.
- Coatings and paints: graphene is studied for barrier and corrosion protection, scratch resistance and anti-static or conductive coatings.
- Conductive plastics: graphene can make polymers conductive enough for static dissipation or electromagnetic shielding of electronics.
- Batteries and supercapacitors: graphene is researched as a conductive additive in electrodes, with the aim of faster charging and longer life.
- Thermal management: graphene's thermal conductivity is studied for heat spreaders and fluids. For liquid cooling, see our ThermaGraph™ coolants.
- Sensors: graphene's sensitivity to strain, temperature and gases makes it a candidate for vehicle sensors.
Adding graphene to an automotive product
Graphene only helps when it is evenly dispersed. We supply it already dispersed in water, solvents, resins and oils, and test it with your engineers in your material before scale-up. Tell us about your product or see what else we make.
For lubricant makers: our graphene lubricant additive gave up to 42% less wear and 26% higher weld load in independent testing at Univar's Houston lab.
