| EPSRC Reference: |
EP/M507763/1 |
| Title: |
Offset lithographic printing of nanocomposite graphene ink. |
| Principal Investigator: |
Stevens, Professor R |
| Other Investigators: |
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| Researcher Co-Investigators: |
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| Project Partners: |
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| Department: |
School of Science & Technology |
| Organisation: |
Nottingham Trent University |
| Scheme: |
Technology Programme |
| Starts: |
01 April 2015 |
Ends: |
31 March 2016 |
Value (£): |
46,904
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| EPSRC Research Topic Classifications: |
| Materials Processing |
Materials Synthesis & Growth |
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| EPSRC Industrial Sector Classifications: |
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| Related Grants: |
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| Panel History: |
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Summary on Grant Application Form |
Offset lithographic printing presses are used continuously to print the high quality glossy colour pages of magazines. The
presses can have multiple colour print units to allow a vast range of graphics to be printed on cardboard, paper and thin
plastics. This project is focused on printing on thin polypropylene sheets which are 1000mm by 707mm and less than 60
microns thick. Commercial presses at Nano Products parent company are set up to print on thin plastic to produce in mould
labels. These labels are loaded into injection moulding die cavity prior to polypropylene melt being forced in at high
pressure. When the cavity is opened the label is incorporated into the wall of the injection moulded object. This is
commonly used to brand label food packaging such as yoghurt and cream pots, ice cream tubs, and fast moving consumer
goods. It is hoped that the outcome of this project will be a new electrical and thermally conductive offset lithographic ink
which can be used on the same press with conventional colour offset inks. In the future it is hoped that the printed
graphene features can be incorporated in super-capacitors, batteries, toys and games, electronic anti-counterfeit labels and
as the conducting layers in flexible photovoltaic devices and displays. Because of the high quality and speed of offset
lithographic printing there are likely to be significant cost reduction of flexible electronic devices and components, which
will lead to lower prices. As well as established opportunities there is the strategic potential to print power harvesting, power
storage, sensing, actuation, display and telecommunications devices on a single flexible substrate to enable new systems
level devices for logistic, healthcare diagnostics and telecommunications devices to name a few.
The collaborative partners are working together to develop a new UV cured graphene ink and to test whether it is feasible
to formulate the ink for high quality, high speed offset printing.
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Key Findings |
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This information can now be found on Gateway to Research (GtR) http://gtr.rcuk.ac.uk
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Potential use in non-academic contexts |
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This information can now be found on Gateway to Research (GtR) http://gtr.rcuk.ac.uk
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Impacts |
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| Description |
This information can now be found on Gateway to Research (GtR) http://gtr.rcuk.ac.uk |
| Summary |
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| Date Materialised |
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Sectors submitted by the Researcher |
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This information can now be found on Gateway to Research (GtR) http://gtr.rcuk.ac.uk
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| Project URL: |
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| Further Information: |
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| Organisation Website: |
http://www.ntu.ac.uk |