A cantilevered canopy made using graphene-based composite materials has won the Innovation Award as part of JEC’s Forum Chicago, taking place from 19-20 June.
The canopy developed by Graphenano Composites, based in Elche, Spain, and Gazechim Composites Ibérica, is reportedly the world’s largest structure manufactured with composites using graphene nanotechnology.
It won the award for its its ‘contribution of nanotechnology in composites for an avant-garde architectural design’, the company said.
The 340 m2+ structure uses graphene technology in the polymeric matrix to help improve the final composite performance. The graphene reinforcement improves the properties of flexural modulus and tensile strength, while also reducing the overall weight of structures, Graphenano says.
This project also includes other graphene doped elements, such as 275 m2 of glass reinforced plastic (GRP) profiles in the office’s façade and 880 m of profiles for shade slats. In addition, around 3000 m of graphene doped GRP rebars have been used to reinforce the concrete of some areas of the project.
This story uses material from Graphenano, with editorial changes made by Materials Today. The views expressed in this article do not necessarily represent those of Elsevier.
