AMS 2025

3D Graphtech Industries Teams With Australia’s CSIRO to Research Graphene 3D Printing

Share this Article

graphene-1Just a few days ago we reported on a massive research and development effort under way in Canada around the 3D printing of graphene, by a company called Grafoid. Graphene, which is composed of a single layer of carbon atoms, is insanely strong, 100 times stronger then steel. I don’t even know if Superman was that strong. If you were to balance a pencil on its tip on a single sheet of graphene, and then had angraphene-2 elephant stand on the eraser side, that sheet of graphene would not break.

This is why there seems to be tremendous excitement when companies begin to discuss the combination of one of the worlds most interesting materials, with probably the most interesting manufacturing technology within the market today, 3D printing.

A graphite mining company, Kibaran Resources, and an Australian 3D printer manufacturer, 3D Group, have recently teamed to form a joint venture called 3D Graphtech Industries, which was created in order to study applications for graphene and graphite within 3D printing. Today, that partnership expanded a bit, to include CSIRO (Commonwealth Scientific and Industrial Research Organisation).

CSIRO is Australia’s national science agency, and is in fact one of the most diverse and largest research agencies on the planet. They operate institutions in over 50 locations throughout the country, as well as overseas. The initial agreement, signed with 3D Graphtech Industries, will be to investigate research opportunities within the area of 3D printing, using graphite and graphene ‘inks’. The agreement will focus primarily on identifying technical problems within the current market, and figure out what solutions could be presented to correct these problems.

“The company is very pleased this initial step has been taken by Graphtech less than two months after the binding alliance with 3D Group was executed,” executive director Andrew Spinks said.

The initial research is expected to take approximately six weeks, and if successful, the partnership would likely be extended for a longer period of time.

“We are particularly delighted the first agreement is with an internationally respected research organisation such as the CSIRO. Kibaran, via Graphtech, is aiming to give its shareholders exposure to a very exciting and emerging new technological frontier.”

With Grafoid’s recent expansion last week, combined with what 3D Graphtech Industries and CSIRO are working on, and the recent interest taken by 3D Printing leader Stratasys, in their partnership with Graphene Technologies, there should be marked progress in this area very quickly.

Let’s hear your thoughts about the potential uses of graphene within the additive manufacturing space, and what it could mean for manufacturing in general, in the 3D printing graphene forum thread on 3DPB.com.

graphene-feat

Share this Article


Recent News

Daring AM: Software Advances Aim to Curb Illegal 3D Printing of Firearms

Austal Buys SPEE3D Cold Spray 3D Printer for Navy’s AM Center of Excellence



Categories

3D Design

3D Printed Art

3D Printed Food

3D Printed Guns


You May Also Like

3D Printing Webinar and Event Roundup: October 27, 2024

This week, Stratasys and Würth Additive Group continue their tours, and ICAM 2024 takes places in Atlanta, Georgia. Other offerings include an AM Symposium, webinars about 3D printing dental implants...

3D Printing News Briefs, October 26, 2024: Collision Repair, Navy Supply Chain, & More

In 3D Printing News Briefs, Farsoon and AM-Rauch have completed a successful beta phase for two of Farsoon’s ultra-temperature PBF printers. Auto Additive launched a global advisory council, and ASTM...

3D Printing Webinar and Event Roundup: October 20, 2024

It’s another packed week of 3D printing webinars and events, focused on topics from industrial AM and investment casting to ceramics, customized medical solutions, quality and regulatory compliance, AM use...

3D Printing News Briefs, October 12, 2024: IPO, Laser Path Optimization, & More

In 3D Printing News Briefs today, WOL3D India recently celebrated its IPO, while BLT signed a distribution agreement with Sicnova and SPEE3D announced a funding partnership with dual-use security investment...