California-based Lyten, the developer of a proprietary, tunable materials platform called Lyten 3D Graphene, has launched a new polymer composite product line, which is being now marketed under the name LytR. The new composite is a polyethylene formulation infused with a proprietary, carbon-based material called Lyten 3D Graphene that significantly reduces weight while maintaining product strength and durability.
The Lyten 3D Graphene platform of materials offers a special form of graphene that in the future may be applied to many different product categories across dozens of industries to deliver enhanced product features while benefitting the environment through decarbonisation.
Graphene is a material known to be 300 times stronger than structural steel. The LytR R series is a copolymer designed for rotational moulding applications that require increased stiffness and low-temperature toughness with a broad processing window. The material has purposely been architected as a drop-in polymer replacement for the rotomould industry to ‘unlock weight reduction without compromising strength’, explained Director of Product Management at Lyten, Bryce Anzelmo. It has the potential to displace traditional materials in a wide array of polyethylene-based products.
“Helping our customers manufacture products utilising up to 50% less polyethylene could help reduce the carbon footprint in the $100B polyethylene market,” said Anzelmo.
One company that has understood the potential of the new material is US-based Pelican Products Inc., a manufacturer of protective cases that is constantly working to innovate their products. They have announced plans to incorporate LytR into a new generation of transport cases, including cases intended for U.S. military forces. Due to the use of LytR technology, the new cases will be up to 50 percent lighter than the standard cases yet feature the same strength and durability.
According to Phil Gyori, President and CEO of Pelican Products, Pelican’s mission is to ‘protect what you value, and this includes the environment around us’.
“Using less polyethylene material to achieve the same or greater strength is a game-changer in the rotomould market, but even more impactful is the long-term benefit for our planet.”