NanoXplore and Techmer PM Launch Graphene Masterbatch to Cut Plastic Film Thickness by 20%

Montreal-based NanoXplore Inc. and North American polymer compounder Techmer PM have officially announced the commercial launch of GrapheneBlack xGnP™ Masterbatch. This new graphene-enhanced formulation is designed specifically for high-performance plastic film applications, offering a solution to long-standing mechanical and environmental challenges in the flexible packaging industry.

The product represents a significant milestone in transitioning graphene from a laboratory curiosity to a high-volume industrial additive. By integrating NanoXplore’s proprietary xGnP™ graphene technology with Techmer PM’s compounding capabilities, the partners aim to address tightening sustainability mandates and circular economy targets globally.

Overcoming Down-Gauging and Strength Limitations

A primary challenge in plastic film manufacturing is “down-gauging”—reducing the thickness of plastic sheets to save raw materials and reduce transportation weight without compromising safety or performance.

The new GrapheneBlack xGnP Masterbatch achieves this by delivering:

• An improvement of more than 70% in mechanical strength.
• A potential thickness reduction of up to 20% while fully preserving critical physical properties, including tensile strength, tear resistance, and puncture performance.
• The ability to incorporate significantly higher percentages of recycled resins into film formulations without the typical drop-off in mechanical durability.

This combination of lightweighting and recycled-content enhancement is particularly valuable for consumer packaging, agricultural films, and industrial wrap manufacturers who must meet strict regulatory thresholds for post-consumer recycled (PCR) content.

Advanced Dispersion and Prototyping Capabilities

Graphene has historically struggled with agglomeration, where the nanocarbon particles clump together and weaken the host polymer. To resolve this, the joint product utilizes Techmer PM’s proprietary Techsperse™ dispersion technology. This specialized chemistry ensures that the graphene is uniformly distributed throughout the masterbatch, providing consistent and repeatable performance at a commercial scale.

To accelerate customer adoption and minimize the risk of transition, Techmer PM has established in-house testing and validation services. This includes a five-layer blown film line at its manufacturing facility, allowing packaging engineers to produce small-scale samples, evaluate multilayer film structures, and rapidly iterate custom formulations.

Following a provisional patent filed by NanoXplore in May 2026, the companies plan to formally showcase the co-developed GrapheneBlack xGnP product line at the upcoming AMI Flexible Packaging Innovation and Recycling Conference in Milwaukee, scheduled for June 24–25, 2026.