Test-bed: Roll-to-Roll coating of graphene composites

Purpose and goal:

Graphene composites are promising materials within a wide range of energy applications and today graphene can be produced on a large scale and used with bio-based binders in composites for e.g. energy storage applications. However, the material´s geometry and complex rheology make it challenging to coat graphene composites with conventional techniques, and to be able to take the step, from laboratory-scale research to demonstration of pilot production, we are creating a test bed for coating graphene composites with large-scale techniques.

Expected results and effects:

We have created and demonstrated a test bed that can coat graphene composites on paper substrates on a large scale with high precision. Today, the test bed can coat graphene composites on up to 600 mm wide paper substrates at speeds between 30-300 m/min. The test bed is available to everyone, regardless of whether you are an individual who wants to test an idea or a large company that wants to test a new concept, something that we see as an important step in making graphene a Swedish area of strength and making it possible for graphene to support the transition to a sustainable society.

Approach and implementation:

The test bed is based on the already advanced pilot coating plant at UMV, which during the project has been supplemented with new knowledge, methods, and technology to be able to handle graphene-based coating media. This has been done through repeated coating experiments, development of coating equipment, evaluation of paper substrates with high wet-strength, modification of coating media, and development of characterization methods for large-scale coated graphene composite coatings. A challenge for achieving high coat weight is the combination of substrate and coating media.