Talga begins big graphene trial

Advanced materials group Talga Resources (ASX: TLG) has begun a large scale commercial trial of a Talga graphene enhanced coating for ships hulls.

Over 700 square metres of the coating is being applied to the Algarrobo (pictured), a 33,000 tonne container ship as a performance booster for conventional marine primer.

Talga managing director Mark Thompson said: “The maritime caoting sector is a very large market and well suited to to use our Talphene graphene additives for improved environmental and economic outcomes.

“We are showcasing our graphene’s real-world potential as a bulk industrial product.”

Graphene is a for of carbon which is 100 times stronger than steel.

The company believes the trial will demonstrate graphene’s benefits including corrosion resistance, decreased metallic paint loss into the ecosystsm and increased efficiency through reduced dry docking.

The ship is now at sea and will test the coating over a 12 to 18 month period in the real world of cargo shipping.

Talga, whicvh also produces advanced battery anode materials, has already tested the coating in the laboratory, showing improved corrosion resistance.

The company has its own technology for dispersion of the graphene into epoxy-based commercial coatings.

“Graphene’s exceptional mechanical properties translated into the coating system and warranted commercial scale trials.”

Picture: Talga Resources

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