Gerdau Graphene Launches Two Graphene Additives for Water-Based Paints And Coatings

Gerdau Graphene announced the commercial availability of two new additives specifically formulated for the paint and coatings industry: NanoDUR and NanoLAV.

The new additives, produced with the company’s proprietary G2D technology, utilize graphene nanoplatelets to deliver performance improvements for water-based paints and coatings, without altering pH levels.

The additives also reduce or eliminate the need for some traditional manufacturing inputs, additives, and processes, which can lower production costs while improving sustainability and reducing environmental impact.

“Until recently, it has been virtually impossible for coatings manufacturers to upgrade product performance, slash manufacturing costs, and improve sustainability at the same time — it simply couldn’t be done. Now, the application of carbon nanomaterials, such as graphene, in commercially available additives has made this possible and will act as a game-changer for the industry,” said Alexandre de Toledo Corrêa, CEO of Gerdau Graphene.

“NanoDUR and NanoLAV represent the new performance, economic, and sustainability edge for coatings manufacturers, enabling them to leapfrog competitors across the value chain,” added de Toledo Corrêa. “These are the newest in our growing portfolio of graphene additives and we’re excited to partner with industry leaders to develop even more novel, powerful applications for graphene.”

NanoDUR is a water-based graphene additive that demonstrates excellent dispersion and dramatically increases paint and coating durability, the company said. NanoDUR-enhanced paints and coatings demonstrate an extraordinary ability to withstand wear and tear, weathering, and other external factors that can lead to degradation over time while maintaining physical and chemical properties, such as color, and adhesion, as well as a strong resistance to chipping, flaking, cracking, fading, and peeling.

NanoDUR is a key component of Gerdau Graphene’s C-Fix brand of graphene-enhanced paint, launched in 2022. Real-world application of C-Fix on high-traffic factory floors has shown that even with 30% less paint applied, C-Fix was 50% more durable with daily sweeper truck cleaning compared with traditional paint.

NanoLAV is a graphene additive specifically designed for water-based architectural  paints. With excellent dispersibility, NanoLAV increases the washability and moisture-resistance of painted or coated surfaces, enabling them to withstand cleaning or washing without degrading, dissolving, peeling, or fading when exposed to water, mild detergents, or other cleaning agents. Because NanoLAV does not modify the pH of paint or coating products, it can significantly reduce or eliminate the need for high-alkaline washability promoters such as sodium silicate, which can harm aquatic life and disrupt ecosystems.