A graphene dispersion is graphene that has already been mixed evenly into a liquid, called the carrier. The carrier can be water, a solvent, a resin or an oil. Instead of handing a manufacturer a bag of dry graphene and leaving the mixing to them, a supplier delivers the graphene already spread through the liquid the manufacturer uses. At Graphene Integrations, in Charlotte, NC, this is the only way we sell graphene: pre-dispersed in a carrier, never as dry flake or powder.
Why dispersion is the hard part of using graphene
Graphene is a sheet of carbon one atom thick. In the lab it has remarkable properties, but it only helps a product when it is spread evenly through the material. Left alone, graphene sheets tend to clump together, and clumps do very little. Getting a uniform, stable mix is usually the step that decides whether an additive works in practice. We believe that is why many first trials with graphene powder disappoint: the graphene is in the batch, but it is not working evenly through it.
What carriers can graphene be dispersed in?
The carrier should match the material you make, so that the graphene arrives in something your process already handles.
- Water: used for concrete, water-based coatings and coolants. Our concrete additive and our ThermaGraph™ data center coolant are examples.
- Solvents: used for solvent-based coatings and car care products. Our work with ITW is an example; see the ITW case study.
- Resins: used for plastics and composites. We worked with Advanced Armor Research Group (AARG) on graphene-integrated polymers, evaluated with V50 ballistic testing at NTS Chesapeake.
- Oils: used for lubricants, greases and immersion cooling fluids, such as our graphene lubricant additive.
Dispersion, concentrate and additive: what is the difference?
A dispersion is graphene mixed into a carrier. A concentrate is a dispersion at a higher graphene content, meant to be diluted or dosed into a larger batch. An additive is the ready-to-add form, made so it can go into your formulation at a stated dose. For example, our graphene concentrate for concrete is dosed at about 1% of the mix. Which form fits depends on your process, so we start by asking what you make and what you want to improve.
Why we do not sell graphene powder
Dry graphene powder has to be handled, weighed and mixed by the customer, and that is where most of the difficulty sits. Supplying graphene already dispersed in a liquid means there is no loose graphene powder to handle on your side. Follow the mixing, storage and safety instructions on the spec sheet and SDS supplied with each product.
How a graphene dispersion project works
- Tell us your product: the material or formulation, the carrier it uses and the property you want to improve.
- Request a quote and samples: we suggest a dispersion and a starting dose and quote R&D samples.
- Run a lab trial: we disperse graphene into your carrier and you test it against your own baseline.
- Scale up: when the trial works, we scale up and supply the dispersion, made in Charlotte, NC.
Results depend on the formulation, which is why we test in your material before any change to your product. See our graphene dispersions and graphene products pages, or read how graphene additives are used in manufacturing.
Frequently asked questions
What is a graphene dispersion?
Graphene mixed evenly into a liquid carrier such as water, a solvent, a resin or an oil, so it can be added to a material without handling dry graphene powder.
Can I buy graphene powder from Graphene Integrations?
No. We sell graphene only pre-dispersed in the carrier you need, never as dry flake or powder. Pricing and samples are by quote.
Which carrier should I choose?
The one your product already uses. Tell us your material and application through the quote form and we will tell you what we can make.
Request a quote, samples or a spec sheet
Tell us your material, the property you want to improve, the carrier you use (water, solvent, resin or oil) and your volumes. Pricing and samples are by quote. Call 704-659-3682 or request a quote, samples or a spec sheet / SDS.
