Improved properties of additively manufactured metals by adding graphene
| Reference number | |
| Coordinator | Mittuniversitetet - Mittuniversitetet, Sundsvall |
| Funding from Vinnova | SEK 291 751 |
| Project duration | May 2020 - February 2021 |
| Status | Completed |
| Venture | Strategic innovation program SIO Grafen |
| Call | SIO Grafen - Collaboration on commercial graphene applications, spring 2020 |
Important results from the project
Main aims were totally fulfilled. A feasibility study for the manufacturing of 316L powders coated with graphene was carried out, and cubes were sucessfully manufactured by PBF-E and PBF-L technologies, and preliminary evaluation show promising results. The project also provided the partners with a SOTA report compiling the main publications regarding the use of graphene in metal AM. An application to request a specialized patent search was submitted at MIUN. Finally, a new consortium for a project continuation was configurated, and a new continuation project proposal submitted.
Expected long term effects
The expected effects are: Medium term -New funding opportunities -Patent search report -New revenue streams for companies -New industrial research projects -Scientific publications Long term -Increased competitiveness for Swedish companies -Strengthen AM and graphene competence in Sweden -Increased use of AM and graphene in Sweden -Widening and diversifying of companies commercial portfolio -Materials with improved mechanical and tribological properties -Reduction in weight in some applications -New powders available for PBF additive manufacturing
Approach and implementation
The project was structured in 6 work packages, and the implementation was carried out without inconveniences. There were two major challenges. 1. Summer break was in the middle of the Project; and that was a challenge in addition to the short duration for the project (6 months), and 2. The Covid situation, and the impact of that in the different actors of the project. Virtual meetings replaced physical ones, and the rest of activities were unaffected. All results from the different WPs were delivered.