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(Alliance News) - Directa Plus PLC on Wednesday said it is planning a first trial of graphene enhanced asphalt at an international airport in Italy.
The AIM-listed supplier of graphene-based products said the six-month trial will be conducted in collaboration with its partner Iterchimica, at Rome's Fiumicino airport on taxiway Alpha Alpha, which is used for intercontinental aircraft such as the Boeing 777 and Airbus A380.
The trial partners also include G.ECO Srl, part of Italian multi-utility Gruppo A2A, and the University of Milan-Bicocca.
The project will use the asphalt additive Gipave, developed by Directa and Iterchimica. In an initial trial in Italy, Gipave was confirmed as providing significant benefits compared to traditional asphalt in all areas tested, Directa noted. These include service life, resistance to the passage of vehicles, and resistance to deformation. Asphalt with Gipave also can be recycled.
"The Gipave trial at Fiumicino airport potentially opens a large new market for us," said Directa Founder & Chief Executive Giulio Cesareo.
"We believe that Gipave will also be a successful technological innovation for both maintenance and new works in airports, providing significant environmental and financial benefits," added Iterchimica CEO Federica Giannattasio.
Directa shares were trading 0.8% higher in London on Wednesday morning at 73.10 pence each.
By Evelina Grecenko; evelinagrecenko@alliancenews.com
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