Black Swan Graphene and Graphene Composites Ltd. are collaborating in the fabrication of the patented shielding technology.
TORONTO—Black Swan Graphene Inc. and advanced materials engineering company Graphene Composites Ltd. said in a release that they have initiated a commercial partnership for the supply of Black Swan’s graphene for use in fabricating GC Shield® (GC Shields), a patented ballistic protection technology.
According to the companies, GC Shields offer excellent lightweight ballistic protection to law enforcement and defense sectors and are among the strongest, lightest, and most resilient ballistic shields on the market. Using advanced materials and GC’s patented graphene-aerogel composite, the shields have unique force dispersion capabilities that are said to provide protection against multiple shots, stacked rounds, and edge impacts—all while maintaining minimal back face deformation.
According to the release, back face deformation “measures the extent to which the armor material deforms inward to the wearer. A minimal back face deformation is more effective in protecting against injuries caused by the force of the impact, even if the projectile is stopped.”
Graphene Composites said in the release that it is currently extending the GC Shields technology—with use of Black Swan’s graphene—to other applications where the strength, resilience, and light weight of the composite can provide significant protection. An example is vehicle armor with certified STANAG Level-1 tests.
The release said that STANAG Level-1 tests refer to “a specific set of standards and testing protocols established by the North Atlantic Treaty Organization (NATO) under the Standardization Agreement (STANAG) framework. STANAG Level-1 typically pertains to ballistic protection standards, ensuring that materials or equipment meet certain criteria for resisting impacts, such as bullets or shrapnel, to protect personnel.”
Black Swan Graphene said it is focused on the large-scale production and commercialization of patented high-performance and low-cost graphene products for industrial sectors, such as concrete, polymers, lithium-ion batteries, and others, that are expected to require large volumes of graphene. The company is working to leverage the low cost and green hydroelectricity of the province of Québec, as well as the proximity of the province’s emerging graphite industry, to establish an integrated supply chain, reduce overall costs, and accelerate the deployment of graphene usage, according to the release.
“The quality, stability, and purity of the graphene produced by Black Swan, now utilized in the manufacture of GC Shields, ensure a highly stable product,” said Graphene Composites Chief Technology Officer Steve Devine, Ph.D., in the release. “Combined with their ISO-certified manufacturing processes, scalability, and competitive pricing, Black Swan offers significant reassurance regarding ongoing quality, cost, and production reliability within the supply chain.”
Graphene Composites describes itself as “an innovative advanced materials engineering company” that is “driven by an ethos to create life-changing products.” Its GC Shields technology is protected by registered patents.
“As a world leader in advanced and nano-materials research, development, and design, we apply our expertise to a wide range of applications,” the company said in the release. “We work with manufacturers to resolve key technical challenges by developing breakthrough solutions and incorporating our technologies to enhance existing product performance.”
Black Swan Chief Operating Officer Michael Edwards said that Black Swan has been “collaborating with Graphene Composites for some time” and is “delighted that their GC Shields products are being adopted in high-profile global safety applications.” He added that the company looks forward to continuing its partnership with GC “and developing further innovative solutions together.”