Canada-based CKR Carbon Corporation, an integrated graphite to hybrid graphenes development company, will be supplying Aukam graphite concentrate for the manufacture and testing of 400 high-performance tyres by its European graphene manufacturing partner.
CKR Carbon and EMG, a leading European manufacturer of graphenes, signed a letter of intent on July 11, 2017to formally develop and exploit Aukam graphite in order to facilitate the manufacture of nano surface engineered graphenes for large volume mass-market applications.
Characterisation and testing of the Aukam graphite by EMG shows that it is a premium quality crystalline vein graphite comparable in quality to other premium graphite sources available throughout the world.
Third-party laboratory testing of the Aukam material compounded into tyre treads in Europe and Asia indicates it has the necessary characteristics required to meet the demands of high-performance tyre treads.
CKR will supply an industrial quantity of Aukam graphite concentrate to enable the manufacture of graphenes for more than 400 tyres. Following further laboratory testing, the tyres will be terrain track and road tested in Europe and North America during the remainder of 2017.
Testing is expected to be completed by the end of the first quarter in 2018. Thereafter, and subject to third party verification of quality and certified test outcomes, detailed planning will be initiated for installation of an integrated production plant.
The plant would provide nano engineered graphenes derived from Aukam graphite for the large volume tyre market.
“We are very pleased that our collaboration with EMG in developing high value graphene based components from Aukam graphite is moving ahead so quickly,” said Sheldon Inwentash, Executive Chairman of CKR Carbon. “Once our concentrate is delivered to EMG we will be developing graphenes for tyre development and testing, the next step in the commercialisation process.”