Hainan targets graphene rubber advances

Hainan Rubber Group has set up a research facility, which will take on graphene/natural rubber composites as its first major project.

The company's "joint laboratory for specialty natural rubber" involves a partnership with Aero Engine Corp. of the Beijing Institute of Aeronautical Materials—China's largest aerospace materials engineering institute. In addition to the development of graphene-rubber materials, the Hainan Rubber partnership aims to build production facilities for such material as the research makes progress.

The production facilities will be the first graphene/natural rubber composites line in China, according to a statement from the rubber maker.

Research conducted at the newly established facility will be based on Hainan Rubber's wet mixing technology for natural rubber composites and the Institute's studies on graphene and related applications.

Overall, the lab plans to develop functional specialty natural rubber and derivatives used in sectors such as aviation, aerospace, shipping, weaponry and high-speed railroad.

The two parties also are looking to facilitate research into rubber-asphalt pavement materials, in partnership with the Malaysian Rubber Board.