An Australian advanced materials manufacturer has reported progress in the development of graphene-enhanced protective coatings, with Sparc Technologies identifying HydroGraph’s FGA-1 Fractal Graphene as a high-performing material for water-based coating formulations following a structured evaluation process.
According to a HydroGraph customer case study, Sparc Technologies assessed HydroGraph’s graphene as part of its ongoing programme to expand qualified graphene suppliers and support the commercialisation of its ecosparc® additive platform for protective coatings used on steel infrastructure.
Sparc said it has spent more than five years developing the ecosparc® platform and evaluating graphene materials, noting that only around 3–5 per cent of commercially available graphene grades pass its screening process because of requirements for corrosion performance, consistency and long-term stability.
“There are hundreds of different grades of graphene, and each behaves differently. One of the key things we do is identify which grades actually work, technically and commercially, in protective coatings,” said Nick O’Loughlin, managing director of Sparc Technologies.
The case study said HydroGraph’s FGA-1 was evaluated alongside other graphene materials in a commercial two-component water-based acrylic epoxy coating using Sparc’s dispersion platform. The testing involved exposure to ISO 9227 neutral salt spray conditions over periods of 480, 960 and 1,680 hours.
According to the reported results, coatings containing FGA-1 recorded a 60 per cent reduction in scribe corrosion creep after 480 hours, a 39 per cent reduction after 960 hours and a 59 per cent reduction after 1,680 hours compared with an unmodified reference coating.
The study also reported reduced blistering from 960 hours onwards and said the material matched or outperformed the other graphene grades evaluated throughout the testing.
HydroGraph said the material’s existing EPA and REACH regulatory approvals, North American production base and production process were also factors supporting its suitability for Sparc’s qualified supply base.
“We’re not talking about incremental gains. These are meaningful improvements that can significantly extend the life of steel assets,” said Kjirstin Breure, president and chief executive officer of HydroGraph.
Sparc said its ecosparc® platform is designed as a drop-in additive that can be incorporated into existing paint manufacturing processes without requiring production changes.
“We’ve designed ecosparc® as a drop-in solution for the coatings industry. The additive is incorporated during coatings manufacture and delivers enhanced coating performance and durability without any process changes,” O’Loughlin said.
The case study said the evaluation supports the potential inclusion of HydroGraph’s FGA-1 in Sparc’s validated graphene supply base for water-based protective coatings, particularly in markets where HydroGraph’s regulatory approvals apply.
“Through systematic screening of multiple graphene materials, FGA-1 was identified as the optimal performer for corrosion protection in a water-based acrylic epoxy coating,” O’Loughlin said.
