UK’s Perpetuus advances graphene-enhanced tires in Indian tie-up

South Wales, UK – Perpetuus Advanced Materials Ltd has signed a joint venture agreement with India’s Asiatic Rubber to advance the production of its graphene-enhanced natural rubber masterbatch.

Announced 14 Oct, the partnership marks what Perpetuus called a “major milestone” and the first commercial deployment of its elastomer technologies in India and wider Asian markets.

Under the venture, Asiatic’s existing manufacturing facility will be upgraded to produce graphene–natural rubber carbon black masterbatch, a material currently under evaluation by several multinational tire producers in India, according to Perpetuus.

The UK company is also in talks with Kerala Rubber Ltd. to build an 80,000 sq ft graphene masterbatch facility in Kottayam, Kerala, targeted for completion in 2027.

The new plant is intended to produce industrial-scale volumes of Perpetuus’s patented graphene masterbatches, serving both the Indian tire market and wider elastomer sectors, including conveyors, gaskets, belts, retreads, and industrial hoses.

Perpetuus maintains that its graphene masterbatch technology can improve tire durability, wet grip, and energy efficiency.

Manufactured using plasma reactors, the materials are compatible with natural rubber (NR), SBR, SSBR, and other synthetic elastomers, providing “superior dispersion, strong interfacial bonding, and consistent performance.”

By reducing or eliminating the need for traditional processing oils and certain additives, the technology is also designed to help manufacturers meet tightening environmental regulations.

“This strategic partnership demonstrates the commercial maturity of our technology,” said John Buckland, CEO of Perpetuus Advanced Materials.

In parallel, Perpetuus said it is broadening development to include reinforcing materials such as recovered carbon black (rCB), tire-derived polymers (TDP), and graphene-enhanced synthetic rubber masterbatches.