Grafoid Inc, a world leading graphene research, application development and investment company, announces the Australian patent office, IP Australia, has ruled on the validity of a process that converts raw graphite ore to graphene.
This is the second time a national government has ruled on the validity of the patent application. The first was the US government. It granted Patent 9221867 to the inventors on December 29, 2015.
The inventors of the process are: Dr Gordon Chiu, a Founding Partner, President and COO of Grafoid Inc, and; Drs Loh Kian Ping and Junzhong Wang of the National University of Singapore (NUS).
The National University of Singapore, as the assignee of the patent, has granted exclusive license to Graphite Zero, a Singapore-based company, for the worldwide production rights for graphene products and derivatives produced under the Mesograf™ trademark name. Grafoid Inc holds a majority ownership in Graphite Zero.
In turn, Graphite Zero has negotiated with Grafoid the global marketing and sales agency rights where Grafoid acts as the exclusive agent for Mesograf™-based products.
Graphite Zero produces Mesograf™ at production facilities in Singapore and at Grafoid’s Global Technology Centre (GGTC) in Kingston, Ontario, Canada.
Mesograf™ products are derived from the one-step patented process for forming expanded hexagonal layered minerals and derivatives using electrochemical charging.
The process produces application friendly, minimal-defect, high-energy density few layer graphene, utilizing a safe, non-destructive extraction process, leaving the lowest possible ecological footprint. This unique, patented process results in what is regarded as a new global standard for economically scalable, high-purity graphene products that can be tailored to both industrial and commercial applications.
The raw graphite ore-to-graphene process and the resulting derivative graphene products form the backbone of the world’s first patent-recognized process in the drive toward affordable, mass commercialization of graphene applications.
Grafoid and its joint venture partners around the world are incorporating Mesograf™ products in a variety of applications including next generation energy creation and storage, coatings and composites.
The ruling negates claims and challenges by an Australian graphite mining company to be the inventor of the world’s first industrial-scale graphene production directly from raw graphite ore using electrochemical charging.
IP Australia’s final decision came after the process inventors provided irrefutable evidence of their intellectual property creation.
“The ruling stands as a precedent-setting victory that our invention can be protected in any jurisdiction,” said Chiu. “The grant of patent is a clear indication that no other claims can even come close to our discovery.”
Commenting on the patent grant, Gary Economo, CEO of Grafoid and Graphite Zero, said: “As we move forward with our global corporate development plans we intend to vigorously defend our market position.”
A patent application was filed by the process inventors with IP Australia on November 22, 2012. The patent final ruling came on August 21, 2016.
Grafoid is a complete solutions graphene company. The company provides expertise as well as product and processes for transformative, industrial-scale graphene applications in partnership with leading corporations and institutions around the world.
A privately held Canadian corporation, Grafoid invests in graphene applications and economically scalable production processes for graphene and graphene derivatives from raw, unprocessed graphite ore. Focus Graphite holds a significant interest in Grafoid Inc.
Incorporated in 2011, Grafoid’s global enterprise platform includes 17 subsidiary companies engaged in the development of Mesograf™ materials and products, and development services. They include, but are not limited to: Mesograf™ lithium batteries for electric vehicles, consumer electronics, and industrial energy storage; additive manufacturing materials including metal alloy and graphene polymer powders for 3D printing; polymers, plastics, rubber, elastomers, and composite materials; fibre science including aluminum alloys; coatings and lubricants; fire retardant materials; thermal management solutions; EMI/RFI/EMP shielding; solar solutions, and analytical testing; and laboratory services.
Grafoid’s research is supported through the Industrial Research Assistance Program (IRAP) of the National Research Council of Canada, and, on February 20, 2015, Grafoid received an C$8.1 million investment from the SD Tech Fund™ of Sustainable Development Technology Canada (SDTC) to develop a technology that will automate Mesograf™ graphene production and end-product development. SDTC is mandated by the Government of Canada to support clean technology companies as they move their technologies to market.
