Interview conducted by Megan Craig, M.Sc.Jan 31 2023 Thought LeadersMark DickieApplications Manager, CompositesGraphene Engineering Innovation Centre The University of Manchester is a world leader in science and innovation in advanced materials.
All of the equipment at the GEIC is pilot-scale, acting as a step up from the research lab. We work with a range of different partners at various stages of enterprise size, from small start-ups to multinational companies. Over the past few years, and even the past six months, we have noticed an increased demand globally for investigating the potential of 2D materials in composite applications. Are there issues with integrating 2D materials into 3D structures? The biggest problem with getting graphene into anything is dispersion. Dispersion is the key thing with anything.
Another company the GEIC partners with uses recycled polymers of reds, greens, yellows and whites to make panels. These recycled materials are placed through a twin screw extruder for compounding, and after adding graphene, we have observed some promising properties.