Environmental Clean Technologies Ltd. (ECT) has produced MXene during initial runs of its scale-up optimisation program using Metallium’s Flash Joule Heating (FJH) reactor platform in Texas.
MXenes are a highly promising class of two-dimensional materials featuring exceptional electrical conductivity, low weight, and highly tuneable surface chemistry.
These characteristics make them ideal for critical defence applications, including electromagnetic interference (EMI) shielding, radar-absorbing coatings, and protective layers for sensitive electronics.
However, widespread commercial adoption has long been hindered by conventional chemical etching techniques, which rely on hazardous hydrofluoric acid, generate toxic waste, and are limited to small batch sizes.
In contrast, ECT’s FJH approach offers a dry, acid-free alternative. The initial test runs processed 400-gram batches of MAX phase precursor material with run times of 30 and 60 minutes.
Utilisding Metallium’s existing Gator Point infrastructure in the United States enables ECT to evaluate and scale production rapidly without incurring heavy capital expenditure on specialised hardware.
Internal analysis via X-ray fluorescence and scanning electron microscopy, alongside independent testing by Moore Analytical, confirmed changes in interlayer spacing consistent with chlorine-terminated MXene.
ECT Executive Chairman Faldi Ismail described the initial results as an encouraging step towards establishing a scalable, cost-effective US source of MXenes tailored for military applications.
“Our focus is on turning this technical progress into a commercial opportunity by producing material consistently to target customer specifications,” Ismail said.
“The next phase will combine process optimisation with identifying priority applications and preparing for customer evaluation.”
“This program highlights the commercial potential of Metallium’s FJH platform beyond metals recovery,” added Metallium CEO Michael Walshe.
“We are now focused on improving process repeatability and generating the operating data needed to support further scale-up.”
The company will now focus on process conditions to achieve repeatable, commercial-grade production, independently verify specifications, and dispatch product samples to prospective defence partners for evaluation.