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Photo: courtesy: Mark Lloyd Photography

Abstract:
Haydale, a leader in the development of enhanced graphene materials, has announced an intention to enter a collaborative agreement with Alex Thomson Racing ("ATR") the HUGO BOSS sponsored extreme sailing team.

Enhanced Graphene Components for Next Generation Racing Yacht

Ammanford, UK | Posted on March 5th, 2015

Haydale, through its newly acquired subsidiary EPL Composite Solutions Limited, will work with ATR to incorporate graphene enhanced materials in their Research and Development programme to improve overall strength and stiffness of a number of key structures within the ATR boat. Through incorporating new graphene enhanced materials in their future boat designs - ATR are seeking to keep their vessel light to ensure optimum speed without compromising on strength.

The initial work will include an immediate review to ascertain weight saving opportunities. In particular the parties are keen to make use of the recent work done by Haydale in adding their functionalised HDPlas® Graphene Nano Platelets ("GNPs") into both Carbon Fibre Reinforced Plastic ("CFRP") and epoxy resins. Importantly, recent work carried out with Cardiff University, UK showed improvements of 40% in the plane shear strength of CFRP whilst the US based research institute Aerospace Corporation endorsed the use of Haydale's GNPs in achieving more than a 100% increase in structural strength and stiffness for epoxy resin systems.

Outside of the obvious opportunity to improve overall strength and stiffness the teams plan a review of bearings and friction points plus critical areas such as delamination of materials and thermal heat management.

Ray Gibbs CEO at Haydale commented "We are extremely pleased to have reached this agreement with Alex Thomson Racing. The technology ATR use in their boats is impressive and state of the art, they pay attention to all aspects of its performance. Fundamentally this agreement demonstrates the belief that Haydale materials advice and technology can make a difference in the high tech world of competitive offshore racing. We will also call on the skills and resources of our collaboration partner the Welsh Centre for Printing and Coating- this is an exciting mix of entrepreneurial flair and technical knowhow which we feel can really make a difference.''

Under the terms of this agreement Haydale will seek project funding for longer term assignments such as the inclusion of Haydale graphenes into barrier films and coatings and to investigate how these coatings could improve the ATR boat performance.

Stewart Hosford, Managing Director of Alex Thomson Racing added:
''It is exciting to be using such industry leading technology in our Research and Development programme. It is important that we deliver a vessel that has the strength to race around the world, but keeps the weight of HUGO BOSS to a minimum. It is similar to Formula One in that you need to keep the vessel light to ensure optimum speed without a compromise on strength, providing the results for the title sponsor whilst racing. I am looking forward to seeing the results and using this technology in future design concepts.''

For further information on enhanced graphene materials please visit www.haydale.com or contact Haydale Ltd. on +44-1269-842946 or For further information on Alex Thomson racing please visit www.alexthomsonracing.com.

Haydale , based in South Wales, UK and housed in a purpose-built facility for processing and handling nanomaterials, is facilitating the application of graphenes and other nanomaterials in fields such as inks, sensors, energy storage, photovoltaics, composites, paints and coatings. Haydale has developed a patent-pending proprietary scalable plasma process to functionalise graphene and other nanomaterials. This enabling technology can provide Haydale with a rapid and highly cost-efficient method of supplying tailored solutions to enhance applications for both raw material suppliers and product manufacturers. Functionalisation is carried out through a low-pressure plasma process that treats both mined, organic fine powder and other synthetically produced nanomaterial powders, producing high-quality few layered graphenes and graphene nanoplatelets. The process can functionalise with a range of chemical groups, with the level of functionalisation tailored to the customer's needs. Good dispersion improves the properties and performance of the host material and ensures the final product performs as specified. The Haydale plasma process does not use wet chemistry, nor does it damage the material being processed; rather, it can clean up any impurities inherent in the raw material. The technology is a low energy user and most importantly environmentally friendly. The Haydale method is an enabling technology, allowing the Company to work with a raw material producer who seeks to add value to the base product and tailor the outputs to meet the target applications of the end user.

Alex Thomson is the youngest yachtsman to ever win a round-the-world race. When he triumphed in the Clipper Round the World Race in 1998/99, he set a record he still holds today. In 2003 Thomson made a spectacular debut in the world of solo sailing by breaking the distance world record. In 2008 he claimed second position in the Barcelona World Race, setting his second distance world record in a monohull. Following this, he focused completely on the world's toughest single-handed yachting race: the Vendée Globe in which the competitors sail 26,000 nautical miles (46,300 km) nonstop around the world. In 2013 he finished this classic in third place.

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Contacts:
Clos Fferws, Parc Hendre,
Capel Hendre,
Ammanford,
Carmarthenshire, SA18 3BL
UK
Tel: +44-1269-842946

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