CONSETT, England—A family-owned chemical manufacturing company in the United Kingdom, Thomas Swan & Co. Ltd., has been awarded a grant from the business nexus Innovate UK to develop a new quality control measurement technique for graphene nanoplatelets.
The amount of the grant was not disclosed.
According to a news release from Thomas Swan, the grant will be put toward a method of determining the aspect ratio of GNP, which is currently done using a range of other methods. In most cases, according to Thomas Swan, high aspect ratio graphene materials are the goal.
Once the measurement tool is developed, Thomas Swan said it will be able to offer its customers "improved levels of characterization" of their GNP products, ensuring quality, consistency and "the delivery of more refined products."
The supplier of carbon nanomaterials and 2D materials said it will develop the measurement program in conjunction with the National Physical Laboratory, based in southwest London, and the U.K.'s National Metrology Institute.
"Being able to continue our close collaboration with the NPL means that we can maintain our high standard of product characterization, integrity and quality, which is paramount in the volume materials manufacturing business," said Michael Edwards, commercial director of advanced materials at Thomas Swan.
The company added it is hopeful that the measurement method will allow it to become more competitive in the innovative fields of nanocomposites, lubricants and battery materials.
"This is a fantastic opportunity to apply the measurement capability developed at NPL to improve productivity and product quality," said Keith Paton, senior research scientist at NPL. "We are looking forward to working with Thomas Swan to deliver improved quality control measurement techniques to monitor the graphene nanoplatelet aspect ratio."
Thomas Swan, with its three divisions of Performance Chemicals, Custom Manufacture and Advanced Materials, was founded in 1926 and employs 179 people. The company exports approximately 70 percent of its products to more than 80 countries from its manufacturing headquarters in England. It has offices in the U.S. and China.