Ecologically-friendly paint uses graphene for improved insulation

Graphenstone paint incorporates graphene molecules to create a paint stronger than steel and more conductive than copper.

Graphenstone paint is the brainchild of Spanish chemical engineer León Jiménez, who developed the paint using artisanal mineral lime from Morón de la Frontera, which is produced using a carbon-neutral process. By adding graphene, a pure form of carbon in which the carbon atoms form a hexagonal lattice just one atom thick, Jiménez created a paint which is 200 times stronger that structural steel and 1000 times more conductive than copper, allowing it to capture radiated heat and transfer it through the paint to improve insulation.

Graphene is highly inert and non-toxic. The graphene reduces the weight of the paint, and allows it to glide on more easily than standard paints, while the porous nature of the coating allows walls to breathe, reducing room humidity, condensation and bacterial and fungal growth. The paint’s high conductivity also improves the thermal regulation of buildings, saving energy by requiring less heating and cooling. The paint’s lack of harmful chemicals, such as formaldehyde and heavy metals, means that rooms can be occupied within just a few hours of painting. Graphenstone produces more than 1,000 colours of the sustainable paints in formats suitable for both indoor and outdoor uses.