Zenyatta Ventures And Western University Initiate A Project To Develop Graphene Enhanced Plastic For The Aerospace And Automotive Sectors

Zenyatta Ventures and Western University Initiate a Project to Develop Graphene Enhanced Plastic for the Aerospace and Automotive Sectors

08:00 EST Thursday, November 09, 2017 

THUNDER BAY, Ontario, Nov. 09, 2017 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Zenyatta Ventures Ltd. (“Zenyatta” or “Company”) (TSXV:ZEN) is pleased to announce the commencement of a collaborative research project with Dr. Takashi Kuboki at Western University (‘Western’) to develop an advanced plastic (polymer composite) using Zenyatta graphene (or graphene-oxide) derived from Albany high-purity graphite deposit.  An enhanced polymer composite material will be attractive to the automotive, aerospace and construction industries that seek lightweight materials with added strength, electrical and thermal properties. Graphene, a single sheet of carbon discovered in 2004 at the University of Manchester, is a new and exciting nanomaterial that can perform all of these functions.

The quickest, simplest and most effective way for commercializing large volumes of graphene is to combine it with existing products in the market place that need enhancement, like composite materials.  Zenyatta recently announced significant success using its high quality graphene to improve compressive and tensile strength of concrete in Israel and enhanced rubber composites in the United Kingdom.  This new project may expand the Company’s business opportunities as a graphene nanomaterial supplier for the polymer composite markets also. 

Zenyatta recently announced the easily exfoliation of Albany graphite via sonication to produce a consistent 1-4 layer graphene which was then homogenously dispersed into a concrete and rubber composite to improve performance.  The dispersion quality of the graphene will be of paramount importance for boosting the performance of a polymer composite as well.

Aubrey Eveleigh, President and CEO of Zenyatta commented, “We continue to find that the unique properties of our graphite enable easy production of a consistent high quality and easily dispersible graphene which is opening doors for new and important disruptive technologies, especially composites.  Zenyatta recently achieved success demonstrating the use of its graphene in concrete and rubber composites with Dr. Oren Regev at Ben-Gurion University in Israel and Dr. Alan Dalton at University of Sussex in England. Using graphene in composites is considered “low-hanging fruit” and the Company will continue to play an increased and active role on collaborative research in this valuable sector.”

Dr. Takashi Kuboki, Assistant Professor of Mechanical and Materials Engineering at Western commented, “During this research and testing project, injection molded plastic will be manufactured using Zenyatta’s graphene (or graphene oxide) as an additive.  Many industries, including aerospace and automotive are very important to Ontario and Canada.  These sectors strive to adopt new technology components made from plastics or polymer composites to reduce weight and improve fuel efficiency but maintain strength.  Also, graphene enhanced electrical properties of composites may protect against electrostatic discharge (i.e. lightning) while increased thermal properties are important for dissipating high temperature (i.e. heat sink in electronics).”

This project is receiving Federal funding from the Natural Science and Engineering Research Council of Canada (“NSERC”) Engage Grant program to allow a team of scientists under the direction of Dr. Kuboki at Western in London, Ontario, Canada to carry out this advanced nanomaterial research.  There is a significant opportunity for the Canadian plastic and composite manufacturing industry to benefit from a high-quality graphene material located in northern Ontario to produce new lighter, stronger, more thermally stable technology products.  This can contribute to the global competitiveness of a leading edge domestic industry to enhance the growth of the Canadian economy.

Mr. Eveleigh also stated, “We are very pleased to receive recognition and support from the Canadian NSERC Engage program which complements our various other collaborative research partnerships.  The Albany project has the potential to produce high-purity graphite product that is converted to high quality graphene.  This material could lead to high-tech, value-added business opportunities to emerge in Ontario and Canada. On behalf of Zenyatta, I would like to thank the Canadian Government for this important support in developing a novel product.”