- Developed new Graphene Ultra Fuel Efficient Tires (GUET)
- Certification and terrain testing targeted for completion in Q3, 2019
- The automotive tire market is large and is expected to grow to 2.5 billion tires by 2022
- The GUET tire market represents a very large vertical for Gratomic which the Company will be vigorously pursuing in 2019, and beyond
Gratomic Inc. (“Gratomic†or the “Companyâ€) (TSX-V: GRAT) (CB81-FRANKFURT) a
vertically integrated graphite to graphenes, advanced materials company
is pleased to announce the development of Gratomic’s new Graphene Ultra
Fuel Efficient Tires (GUET) with certification and terrain testing targeted for completion in Q3, 2019.
“Purely from a demand perspective, we have been pulled into a market which represents a very large opportunity for Gratomic. Simply put, our customers want what we have; high quality
graphene. Not only are Hybrid Graphene enhanced tires fuel efficient,
but they can also demonstrate better handling and longer life†commented
Gratomic’s Chairman and Co-CEO Sheldon Inwentash. “The GUET tire market represents a very large vertical for Gratomic which the Company will be vigorously pursuing in 2019, and beyond.â€
Gratomic recognizes the automotive tire market is large and is expected to grow to 2.5 billion tires by 2022. Gratomic looks to penetrate and disrupt the traditional means of tire production by providing graphene enabled
GUET tires. To date, the global tire market has recognized that
employing graphenes within tire treads, walls and the inner linings can
make tires lighter, provide better grip and reduce rolling resistance to
an extent that is not possible with existing tire compounds. On
average, this would require 20 to 25 grams of graphene per tire.
However, for the Industry, specification consistency and scaleability of supply have been limiting factors and to date have been the biggest constraints in commercializing Graphene.
Attributed
to the right combination of geology at the mine and our processing
partner, Gratomic strongly believes it can satisfy the supply demand of quality graphenes required for what the Company believes is the growing market demand for a new age economy tire. Gratomic is confident in its ability to deliver consistent quality and quantities of Graphenes to end users.
Gratomic
has been able to achieve this through a unique collaboration agreement
with its development partner Perpetuus Carbon Technologies who currently
supplies
substantial quantities of surface modified graphenes on a monthly basis
to the tire industry through its Patented Plasma Process.
Ian Walters Director – Perpetuus Carbon Technologies Limited stated:
“Perpetuus’ investigative analysis and characterization has concluded that the Graphenes derived from the Gratomic mine are highly friable, more so than any other graphite tested for purpose
by the Perpetuus Labs. The liberated graphenes when functionalized have
demonstrated excellent processability. Initial application in a host of
end uses has demonstrated excellent suitability for a range of
products. Most noteworthy are the excellent results generated when the
Hybrid Graphenes are included in elastomers for tire construction.
Perpetuus looks forward to working with Gratomic to launch probably the first range of Graphene enabled ultra fuel efficient tires.â€
Employing
its dedicated facility for the patented Perpetuus plasma method
Gratomic post plasma processing produces graphenes (less than 10 layers)
of a high purity (CK 99.10%) derived from its Graphite Mine in Namibia.
Website:
Gratomic is pleased to advise shareholders that the Company’s website has been updated. Please visit www.gratomic.ca.
About Perpetuus Carbon Technologies.
Perpetuus
is the world’s largest producer of plasma surface engineered graphenes
formulated for specific end uses with a capacity in excess of 100’s of
tonnes per annum. The company has a lab to commercialization facility
based at its two premises in South Wales UK. Cycle and car tires
enhanced with Perpetuus graphenes are currently and simultaneously being
road tested on bikes, light commercial vehicles and taxis in Asia and
Europe and are used on a daily basis. Perpetuus surfaced engineered
graphenes are currently being introduced into development programmes for
aircraft and industrial tires.
About Gratomic Inc.
Gratomic is an advanced materials company focused on mine to market commercialization of graphite products most notably high value graphene-based components for a range of mass market
products. We are collaborating with a leading European manufacturer of
graphenes to use Aukam graphite to manufacture graphene products for
commercialization on an industrial scale. The company is listed on the
TSX Venture Exchange under the symbol GRAT.
For more information: visit the website at www.gratomic.ca or contact:
Arno Brand, Co-CEO, +1 416-561-4095 E-mail inquiries: [email protected]
