CRANFIELD, UNITED KINGDOM - 19 OCTOBER 2022: Malaysia's rubber quest to fly high in space by utilising the grandeur of rubber products in the graphene space balloon endeavour has progressed to the next stage.
The Malaysian-owned company Green Space Industries has a collaboration agreement in place with Cranfield University in the UK and Levidian Nanosystem Ltd. in Bedford, the UK, which is being facilitated by MRC. This deal was signed on September 21, 2022.
Nor Hizwan Ahmad, Chief Executive Officer of the Malaysian Rubber Council (MRC), said that the parties involved will work together to promote as well as foster better uptake of graphene by industry in Malaysia, which is believed to be able to add value to raw materials such as natural rubber to produce high-value end products.
“Consequently, this shall enable more production of high value, graphene-enhanced latex products into the market by the industry, especially in Malaysia. By having so, it will also help to increase the latex price especially at the smallholders’ level, benefitting the Malaysian upstream rubber sector,” said Hizwan.
Simultaneously, MRC promotes green technology by utilising graphene recovered from the decarbonization of methane generated from industrial combustion processes, in accordance with SDG 2030 and Net Zero Carbon objective.
Hizwan added that the goal of this international partnership is to draw investment from all over the world, not just from the UK.
"In a nutshell, it is a natural rubber and graphene extract-based aerospace balloon idea. Future plans call for underdeveloped nations to have affordable access to satellite applications.
Aerospace balloons made of natural rubber and graphene extract will be more affordable and environmentally friendly than rockets used to send objects into space.
"Furthermore, once launched from the balloon, the satellite may be brought down using reasonably sustainable technology. As a result, the price will be ten times less than that of a rocket launch. A satellite launch with a rocket costs at least USD60 million," Hizwan said.
The graphene-enhanced aerospace rubber balloon itself is expected to reach the market in 3 years. It will then be attached together with other advanced applications including cube satellite and start to provide comprehensive solutions to the market by year five.
Green Space Industries is a subsidiary of Meditech Gloves Sdn. Bhd, a Malaysian- owned rubber products company based in the United Kingdom that is interested in exploring Cranfield University's expertise and facilities.
The Green Space industry is led by experienced Malaysian professionals from different backgrounds. Green Space Industries is represented by Chief Operating Officer, Farisan Mokhtar, Advisory Board Member, Amin Kassim, and Patrick Smyth as Local Partners.
Cranfield University on the other hand is a well-established University with a reputation for undertaking applied research and teaching, focusing on the needs of industry and government. Cranfield University shall be the platform of the rubber-graphene technology development.
Established in Cambridge, United Kingdom, Levidian is the only company in the world that has a patented technology that captures and convert harmful methane gas into graphene. The by-product of their process is hydrogen. Through this collaboration, Levidian will be supplying sustainable ‘green’ graphene.
Tun Abdul Razak Research Center (TARRC), an agency under the Malaysian Rubber Board (MRB) and the world's top and innovative rubber research and development laboratory, will also assist this collaboration.
MRC, lead by Hizwan, is currently taking a significant step ahead in pushing the development of the Malaysian rubber industry from rubber plantation to aerospace industry.
On October 6, 2022, MRC signed a joint venture agreement with the Malaysian School Principals' Council (MPSM) to implement the 4M Programme themed ‘Permata Digilap, Generasi Terbela, Negara Sejahtera’. The program, which will run from October 2022 to March 2023, is designed to help students master five fundamental aspects of education: reading, writing, counting, listening, and speaking, as well as improve their social skills.
MRC will also be participating in the International Autotech & Accessories 2022 from October 27 to October 30. Autotech is one of the most highly anticipated events in Vietnam, featuring the latest automotive products, automobile manufacturers as well as leading accessories enterprises. This event serves as an ideal choice for the automotive industry's players to display their products and shape their target markets in Vietnam.
