The Aerospace Technology Institute (ATI) and the National Graphene Institute (NGI) at the University of Manchester have published INSIGHT, a joint paper on the potential of graphene in aerospace — and the potential market opportunities available to UK aero-space companies.

The safety and performance of aircraft could be improved by incorporating one-atom-thin graphene into the materials used to build them.

In his introduction to the INSIGHT paper, Sir Richard Branson said: “The potential for graphene to solve enduring challenges in the aerospace sector presents real opportunities for the material to become disruptive — and
a key enabler in future aircraft technology.

"We need to accelerate the opportunity for the UK to realise the benefits from graphene by creating a portfolio of graphene-related research and technology projects, which — if undertaken — would lead to real impact in our aerospace industry.”

James Baker, CEO of Graphene@Manchester (at the University of Manchester) said: “Major generational improvements in the aerospace sector have been associated with embracing new materials.

Aluminium and carbon fibre have seen aeroplanes become faster, greener and cheaper; now graphene and related two-dimensional materials can mark the next step-change.

The ATI and NGI are continuing to collaborate on accelerating the technology development cycle for graphene applications in the UK aerospace sector — identifying suitable opportunities for graphene and ensuring that the UK aerospace sector can leverage the material’s properties to remain globally competitive.

The INSIGHT paper on graphene is available to download from the ATI Web site (www.ati.org.uk/resources/publications/).