Graphene-enhanced films to be commercially available

A new packaging film, made by a collaboration between two Brazilian companies, will go on sale in quarter 3 of 2023.

The partnership brings together Packseven - a stretch-film maker, and Gerdau Graphene - a nanotechnology company providing the specialised graphene additive technology. They are creating a pack that they claim ‘could pack 120% more material without breaking compared with comparable flexible films'.

‘The addition of graphene to polyethylene plastic films has shown gains in material resistance, making it possible to significantly reduce the thickness of the film,’ says Flavia Zangrandi, Head of Product Development at Gerdau Graphene.

‘The addition of graphene thus allows for a performance gain combined with a more sustainable material due to the reduction of virgin plastic and/or the increase of recycled plastic in the composition of the final product.’

Gerdau Graphene have also announced the availability of its thermoplastic products created using a Poly-G polyethylene masterbatch – one that is 25% thinner than graphene-enhanced plastic film.

The product was piloted in a series of industrial applications within Gerdau's factories, including as a film for construction nail packaging. Gerdau reported that by using the new product far fewer nails perforated the packaging, resulting in a 39% reduction in the volume of discarded damaged packaging and a 7% increase in film productivity.