Haydale Graphene Industries files joint patent with Airbus

Global advanced materials group Haydale Graphene Industries (Ammanford, U.K.) announces its signed agreement with Airbus Operations Ltd. (Bristol, U.K.). Subsequently, Airbus has filed a joint patent application to cover the intellectual property jointly generated by Haydale and Airbus under the multi-party, NATEP-supported Graphene Composites Evaluated in Lightning Strike Project (GraCELS-2).

GraCELS-2 was reportedly designed to confirm that the incorporation of functionalized graphene/2D fillers could produce the next iteration of composite materials with significantly improved lightning strike performance compared to existing current carbon fiber/epoxy systems, thus alleviating the need for copper mesh. The success of GraCELS-2 moved Haydale and Airbus closer to the production of commercial material for applications in aerospace structures and also for other applications which are susceptible to lightning strike.

In October 2019, Haydale launched a range of graphene enhanced prepreg material for lightning strike protection using functionalized nanomaterials to improve the electrical conductivity and to reduce the unloaded weight of an airliner cost-effectively and with clear environmental benefits. The technology underlying the Patent Application further enhances the effectiveness and performance of Haydale’s prepreg range of materials.

“I am looking forward to adding the new technology to our functionalized masterbatch offering, which will further improve the performance of this product range,” says Keith Broadbent, Haydale CEO. “We look forward to discussing the potential applications of this product with existing and new customers interested in achieving the environmental and cost benefits offered by our enhanced range.”