Zenyatta Ventures and Western University Initiate a Project to Develop Graphene Enhanced Plastic for the Aerospace and Automo...
November 09 2017 - 7:00AM
YASTEST
THUNDER BAY, Ontario, Nov. 09, 2017
(GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Zenyatta Ventures Ltd. ("Zenyatta" or
"Company") (TSXV:ZEN) is pleased to announce the commencement of a
collaborative research project with Dr. Takashi Kuboki at Western
University ('Western') to develop an advanced plastic (polymer
composite) using Zenyatta graphene (or graphene-oxide) derived from
Albany high-purity graphite deposit. An enhanced polymer
composite material will be attractive to the automotive, aerospace
and construction industries that seek lightweight materials with
added strength, electrical and thermal properties. Graphene, a
single sheet of carbon discovered in 2004 at the University of
Manchester, is a new and exciting nanomaterial that can perform all
of these functions.
The quickest, simplest and most
effective way for commercializing large volumes of graphene is to
combine it with existing products in the market place that need
enhancement, like composite materials. Zenyatta recently
announced significant success using its high quality graphene to
improve compressive and tensile strength of concrete in Israel and
enhanced rubber composites in the United Kingdom. This new
project may expand the Company's business opportunities as a
graphene nanomaterial supplier for the polymer composite markets
also.
Zenyatta recently announced the
easily exfoliation of Albany graphite via sonication to produce a
consistent 1-4 layer graphene which was then homogenously dispersed
into a concrete and rubber composite to improve performance.
The dispersion quality of the graphene will be of paramount
importance for boosting the performance of a polymer composite as
well.
Aubrey Eveleigh, President and CEO
of Zenyatta commented, "We continue to find that the unique
properties of our graphite enable easy production of a consistent
high quality and easily dispersible graphene which is opening doors
for new and important disruptive technologies, especially
composites. Zenyatta recently achieved success demonstrating
the use of its graphene in concrete and rubber composites with Dr.
Oren Regev at Ben-Gurion University in Israel and Dr. Alan Dalton
at University of Sussex in England. Using graphene in composites is
considered "low-hanging fruit" and the Company will continue to
play an increased and active role on collaborative research in this
valuable sector."
Dr. Takashi Kuboki, Assistant
Professor of Mechanical and Materials Engineering at Western
commented, "During this research and testing project, injection
molded plastic will be manufactured using Zenyatta's graphene (or
graphene oxide) as an additive. Many industries, including
aerospace and automotive are very important to Ontario and
Canada. These sectors strive to adopt new technology
components made from plastics or polymer composites to reduce
weight and improve fuel efficiency but maintain strength.
Also, graphene enhanced electrical properties of composites may
protect against electrostatic discharge (i.e. lightning) while
increased thermal properties are important for dissipating high
temperature (i.e. heat sink in electronics)."
This project is receiving Federal
funding from the Natural Science and Engineering Research Council
of Canada ("NSERC") Engage Grant program to allow a team of
scientists under the direction of Dr. Kuboki at Western in London,
Ontario, Canada to carry out this advanced nanomaterial
research. There is a significant opportunity for the Canadian
plastic and composite manufacturing industry to benefit from a
high-quality graphene material located in northern Ontario to
produce new lighter, stronger, more thermally stable technology
products. This can contribute to the global competitiveness
of a leading edge domestic industry to enhance the growth of the
Canadian economy.
Mr. Eveleigh also stated, "We are
very pleased to receive recognition and support from the Canadian
NSERC Engage program which complements our various other
collaborative research partnerships. The Albany project has
the potential to produce high-purity graphite product that is
converted to high quality graphene. This material could lead
to high-tech, value-added business opportunities to emerge in
Ontario and Canada. On behalf of Zenyatta, I would like to thank
the Canadian Government for this important support in developing a
novel product."
About
Zenyatta. Zenyatta is developing its large and unique
Albany graphite deposit in Ontario, Canada. The Company's
highly crystalline (Igneous-type) graphite deposit is situated 30
km north of the Trans-Canada Highway, power line and natural gas
pipeline near the communities of Constance Lake First Nation and
Hearst. A rail line is located 50 km away and an all-weather
road approximately 10 km from the deposit.
About
Western. Western University delivers an academic
experience second to none. Since 1878, The Western Experience has
combined academic excellence with life-long opportunities for
intellectual, social and cultural growth in order to better serve
our communities. Our research excellence expands knowledge and
drives discovery with real-world application. Western attracts
individuals who have a broad worldview and who seek to study,
influence and lead in the international community.
Mr. Aubrey Eveleigh, P.Geo.,
Zenyatta's President and CEO, is the "Qualified Person" for the
purposes of National Instrument 43-101 and has reviewed, prepared
and supervised the preparation of the technical information
contained in this news release. For Further Information Please
visit the Company's website at www.zenyatta.ca or contact
807-346-1660.
CAUTIONARY STATEMENT: This
research and analysis will not represent a statistically large
sample size and the grant is for testing on small scale lab
equipment. Furthermore, any positive results do not mean that
Zenyatta can extract and process Albany graphite for graphite
applications on an economic basis. Without a formal
independent feasibility study, there is no assurance that the
operation will be economic. Neither TSX Venture Exchange nor
its Regulation Services Provider (as that term is defined in the
policies of the TSX Venture Exchange) accepts responsibility for
the adequacy or accuracy of this release. This news release may
contain forward looking information and Zenyatta cautions readers
that forward looking information is based on certain assumptions
and risk factors that could cause actual results to differ
materially from the expectations of Zenyatta included in this news
release. This news release includes certain "forward-looking
statements", which often, but not always, can be identified by the
use of words such as "believes", "anticipates", "expects",
"estimates", "may", "could", "would", "will", or "plan". These
statements are based on information currently available to Zenyatta
and Zenyatta provides no assurance that actual results will meet
management's expectations. Forward-looking statements include
estimates and statements with respect to Zenyatta's future plans,
objectives or goals, to the effect that Zenyatta or management
expects a stated condition or result to occur, including the
expected timing for release of a pre-feasibility study, the
expected uses for graphite in the future, and the future uses of
the graphite from Zenyatta's Albany deposit. Since forward-looking
statements are based on assumptions and address future events and
conditions, by their very nature they involve inherent risks and
uncertainties. Actual results relating to, among other things,
results of metallurgical processing, ongoing exploration, project
development, reclamation and capital costs of Zenyatta's mineral
properties, and Zenyatta's financial condition and prospects, could
differ materially from those currently anticipated in such
statements for many reasons such as, but are not limited to:
failure to convert estimated mineral resources to reserves; the
preliminary nature of metallurgical test results; the inability to
identify target markets and satisfy the product criteria for such
markets; the inability to complete a prefeasibility study; the
inability to enter into offtake agreements with qualified
purchasers; delays in obtaining or failures to obtain required
governmental, environmental or other project approvals; political
risks; uncertainties relating to the availability and costs of
financing needed in the future; changes in equity markets and the
ability to access capital, inflation, changes in exchange rates;
fluctuations in commodity prices; delays in the development of
projects; capital and operating costs varying significantly from
estimates and the other risks involved in the mineral exploration
and development industry; and those risks set out in Zenyatta's
public documents filed on SEDAR. This list is not exhaustive of the
factors that may affect any of Zenyatta's forward-looking
statements. These and other factors should be considered carefully
and readers should not place undue reliance on Zenyatta's
forward-looking statements. Although Zenyatta believes that the
assumptions and factors used in preparing the forward-looking
information in this news release are reasonable, undue reliance
should not be placed on such information, which only applies as of
the date of this news release, and no assurance can be given that
such events will occur in the disclosed time frames or at all.
Zenyatta disclaims any intention or obligation to update or revise
any forward-looking information, whether as a result of new
information, future events or otherwise, other than as required by
law.
This
announcement is distributed by Nasdaq Corporate Solutions on behalf
of Nasdaq Corporate Solutions clients.
The issuer of this announcement warrants that they are solely
responsible for the content, accuracy and originality of the
information contained therein.
Source: Zenyatta Ventures Ltd via Globenewswire
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