Fabien Bohic joined the Carbon Waters team in July 2018. As Physicochemical Analysis Technician, he is involved in the production of graphene and ensures the logistics management of the laboratory.
Fabien Bohic was destined to become an archaeologist, then an education assistant. But chemistry took him in a different direction as he was about to turn 30. He became a laboratory assistant when an opportunity arose. Fabien decided to go back to school, and then trained and gained further experience in France and Germany.
There he explored analytical chemistry, polymers, metallurgy, production and R&D. He also discovered the pleasure of working in a dynamic environment and collaborating with chemists from all over the world.
Production of graphene
Arriving at Carbon Waters during the summer, he currently holds the position of Physicochemical Analysis Technician. “I am supporting Julia, Process Manager, and Thomas and Héloïse, who manages application developments”, he explains.
To this end, he is involved in the production of graphene. But also in various research projects relating to opportunities for applications or methods aimed at depositing the solution on the surface.
Having participated in the setting up of a laboratory in Germany, he also took a welcome look at logistics operations and procedures related to safety, quality and respect of environmental issues.
New products and new methods
“The exploitation of graphene raises many fascinating questions, from production to the wide range of possible applications. The ideal topic for someone inquisitive!, commented Fabien Bohic. Above and beyond the interest in nanotechnologies, he also appreciates the opportunity to work within a fast-growing start-up.
“There is a kind of freedom, very positive in terms of autonomy. And at the same time, everyone understands the need to move forward and rapidly develop new products or new methods of analysis”, he went on.
The Cetim (Technical Center for Mechanical Industry) Innovation Forum was held on December 6, 2018 in Senlis (France). The goal of this forum was to encourage discussions between startups and industrialists.
At the forum, Carbon Waters was awarded first prize in the “innovative materials and fluids” category, which included a €5,000 grant. This prize was awarded by Poclain for our innovative graphene dispersion.
The event brought together 67 startups participating in this innovation challenge and more than 300 industrial companies.
Read the Cetim article about this event.
The leading event in Southeast Asia for the graphene industry, Graphene Malaysia, was held on October 29-30, 2018, in Kuala Lumpur. It attracted approximately 20 speakers and several hundred visitors. Carbon Waters was invited to sign a partnership with the company Mont Aero as part of the NanoMalaysia programs.
The signing of the contract gave rise to an official ceremony in the presence of the ministers of technology and international trade, the chairman of NanoMalaysia, the director of Mont Aero, as well as CEO Alban Chesneau. “We were spotted at the JEC World event (the leading international composites show) which was held last March in Paris.
Carbon Waters achieved great visibility by being selected as one of the 10 companies to watch in the composites industry. Representatives from Mont Aero approached me and a collaboration began to develop.”
Palm oil, rubber and oil development
The commercial partnership between Mont Aero and Carbon Waters did not come about by chance. Malaysia is a country that produces palm oil and rubber. Adding graphene to these products provides significant value added.
Carbon Waters will work on applications related to rubber for two companies, and also work on oil development for the Petronas University of Technology.
“We’re going to sell them our graphene dispersions,” announced Alban Chesneau, “Initially on a relatively small scale. This is just the beginning but will serve as proof of concept. We have very good potential for development in Malaysia in the coming years, which is an excellent opportunity for Asia in general.”
Pioneering an innovative graphene form, Carbon Waters offers the industry an enhanced, controlled performance for its materials.
Carbon Waters is now able to produce a form of graphene that is both stable and easy to use, opening the way to numerous industrial applications.
But why is it so revolutionary? Graphene is a material unlike any other.
What is graphene made of?
Graphene is a single layer of carbon atoms, which means that it is just one atom thick.
For Alain Pénicaud, director of research at CNRS and specialist in the subject, “It is the ultimate membrane, an all-surface material.” One square meter of graphene weighs about 0.77 mg.
What are graphene’s properties?
Within this carbon “sheet,” the atoms are separated by very short bonds, on the order of 0.335 mm long.
This characteristic gives it exceptional mechanical strength: 1 mm² of graphene is able to withstand pressure of up to two tons.
“It also possesses remarkable chemical inertness, making it stable where many metals start to melt or oxidize,” explains Alain Pénicaud. It is also an excellent electrical conductor.
What are graphene’s applications?
A single layer is all you need to form an impenetrable barrier that protects against moisture or gases. Graphene is starting to find applications in the industrial world as a surface barrier, in particular for corrosion resistance, but also for making an insulating material conductive.
“You can create a barrier with graphene, but it would not be homogeneous; whereas a liquid containing graphene can be deposited over the entire surface that you want to protect,” adds Alain Pénicaud.
It has a wide range of applications in fields as varied as energy, aeronautics, building, and microelectronics.
How to produce graphene?
That is THE key question: how to obtain high quality graphene in sufficient quantities with a economically viable process.
Production methods using mechanical splitting or electric shocks are not transposable to large scale production.
Or do not obtain graphene of high enough quality. The graphene developed by Carbon Waters constitutes the technological answer to these production challenges.
As well as to application processes since it also produces a material that is easy to handle.
And now?
Thanks to the Carbon Waters process, it is possible to produce large quantities of graphene useful for creating homogeneous coatings.
The next stage, already well under way, involves managing industrial projects that are able to optimise the exceptional properties of graphene.
Want to know more about graphene? Download our dedicated white paper!