SHT Smart High-Tech Launches Recycled Graphene Material to Boost EV Battery Cooling
Swedish materials technology firm SHT Smart High-Tech AB has officially launched GT50R®, a high-performance graphene-based thermal interface material (TIM) designed to address the intense thermal management needs of modern electronics. Developed as a spin-off from Chalmers University of Technology, the company’s latest product represents a significant milestone in sustainable material design, as it is manufactured entirely from recycled graphene waste generated during SHT’s primary production processes.
High-Performance Cooling Meets Circular Manufacturing
The introduction of GT50R® addresses a persistent challenge in the advanced materials sector: balancing extreme performance with environmental sustainability. By reclaiming graphene spill material from its manufacturing lines, SHT has created a circular production loop that reduces waste while delivering a commercial-grade thermal management solution. This proprietary manufacturing method is fully patent-protected by the company.
The scientific research and experimental data validating the material’s properties have been peer-reviewed and published in the journal Applied Physics Letters, providing rigorous academic backing to the commercial launch.
Unlocking Extreme Adhesion and Thermal Conductivity
Thermal interface materials are critical for transferring heat away from sensitive electronic components to heat sinks. GT50R® delivers performance metrics that far exceed conventional options:
- Thermal Conductivity: The material achieves a thermal conductivity of at least 50 W/mK, which is at least five times more effective than traditional alternatives like standard thermal pastes and phase-change materials.
- Mechanical Adhesion: Unlike SHT’s existing GT-TIM® product line, which features adhesion strengths below 100 kPa, GT50R® boasts an adhesion strength exceeding 4 MPa.
- Structural Resilience: This massive increase in mechanical strength allows the material to tolerate major dimensional changes over large, expanded surfaces, making it highly reliable under severe thermomechanical stress.
Targeting the Electric Vehicle and Energy Storage Markets
The unique combination of high thermal performance and robust mechanical adhesion positions GT50R® to capture market share in several rapidly growing industries. SHT is specifically targeting the product at battery cooling in electric vehicles (EVs) and grid-scale energy storage systems. Both applications require reliable heat dissipation over large surface areas that are subject to constant physical vibration and temperature fluctuations.
Additionally, the material is optimized for cooling complex power electronics, such as those used in telecommunications, high-performance computing, and industrial power modules. These segments have historically struggled with the mechanical limitations of existing thermal pads and pastes, which can degrade or shift under continuous operational stress.
A Sustainable Step Forward for Thermal Management
According to SHT Chief Executive Officer Raymond Wang, the launch of GT50R® is the result of a targeted effort to expand the company’s portfolio with solutions that satisfy both commercial performance requirements and environmental mandates. By utilizing recycled production waste, the company can address demanding battery and power electronics applications that conventional materials cannot support, while maintaining a highly resource-efficient manufacturing footprint.
