Thomas Swan enters deal for bulk graphene production

Consett, UK – England-based chemicals company Thomas Swan & Co. and Montreal-based mining company Mason Graphite have entered a joint partnership to establish a large-scale graphene production facility in Quebec, Canada.

As part of the deal, the two sides have established a joint venture company, Black Swan Graphene (BSG), which has acquired the graphene patent and knowhow from Thomas Swan for £3 million (€3.5 million) in cash.

In return Thomas Swan has a 33.33% stake in BSG and a back-licence that allows it to continue to manufacture and sell smaller quantities, up to 1000 tonnes per year, of graphene. 

Two Thomas Swan directors, Harry Swan, CEO and owner and Michael Edwards, business director for the advanced materials division, will also join the board of BSG, said a 26 July statement by the UK company. 

BSG is expected to list on a Canadian Stock Exchange “within the coming months” as it targets the rapid expansion of bulk graphene production and application development.

The “unique graphite project”, according to Harry Swan, will aim to develop a broad range of carbon related products, and work with several high-profile technical partners. 

“This partnership creates a more efficient supply chain, which will solidify and accelerate the deployment of our graphene processing technology within a burgeoning industry,” he added.

Among its many applications, graphene can notably be used to strengthen polymers which are currently driving the lightweighting trend within the transportation industry.

The material, according to Mason Graphite, could replace carbon black for the reinforcement of rubber and can also render plastics recyclable.