Kjirstin Breure is the CEO of HydroGraph Clean Power Inc. The company produces high-purity graphene for industrial use, with potential applications in coatings, concrete, plastics, composites, automotive manufacturing, and aerospace.
Breure leads the company’s efforts to increase production and build relationships with customers interested in using graphene in their products.
Q: Why is graphene so difficult to commercialize?
Kjirstin Breure: Graphene has long been known for its strength, conductivity, and low weight. The challenge is producing it consistently and at a cost manufacturers can afford. Companies need a reliable supply of material with predictable properties before they can use it in commercial products.
Production methods also affect graphene’s quality. Different processes can produce materials with different characteristics, making it difficult for customers to get consistent results. At HydroGraph, we use a fractal graphene process to produce material with consistent properties. Our goal is to help customers test graphene in real products and determine where it can deliver measurable benefits.
Q: How is HydroGraph’s FGA-1 graphene useful to manufacturers?
Kjirstin Breure: We produce FGA-1 using our proprietary fractal graphene process. Our focus is on high-purity material with properties that may benefit manufacturers working with coatings, plastics, concrete, and composite materials.
The value depends on how the graphene performs in a specific product. Sometimes, adding graphene may improve strength or durability. Other times, it may help with conductivity or reduce the material needed to achieve a desired result. We work with potential customers to understand their requirements and test whether FGA-1 can meet them. Those results help determine where the material makes commercial sense.
Q: How will HydroGraph increase its graphene production?
Kjirstin Breure: We have been developing our modular Hyperion reactor system to support higher production volumes, and we have plans to expand production capacity in Texas. Modular equipment helps us add capacity as demand grows.
As we increase production, we must maintain consistent quality, meet customer specifications, and manage manufacturing costs. These priorities will guide our work as we prepare to supply customers at a commercial level.
Q: Which industries offer the best opportunities for HydroGraph?
Kjirstin Breure: There’s a lot of potential across various applications, including construction, automotive, aerospace, defence, plastics, and coatings. Each industry has its own requirements, so we must understand how the material performs in each.
Concrete and construction materials are worth watching because improvements in strength, durability, or material efficiency could offer many benefits. Coatings and composites also present opportunities, especially where manufacturers want to improve product performance or reduce weight. We work with customers who have a specific use for graphene and test its performance in their products.
Q: How can HydroGraph build a sustainable business?
Kjirstin Breure: We need to produce graphene reliably, increase our output, and turn customer interest into repeat orders. Product testing is crucial here. Manufacturers need evidence that graphene delivers useful results under the conditions in which their products will be used.
We also need to manage production costs and build relationships with customers who have a practical reason to use the material. Our long-term growth will depend on meeting customer requirements, delivering consistent quality, and supplying graphene at prices that work for commercial production.
***
