Directa Plus Regulatory News (DCTA)

23 November 2017

Directa Plus plc

("Directa Plus" or the "Company")

Directa Plus and Iterchimica develop Eco Pave graphene-enhanced asphalt additive

New super-additive containing Graphene Plus significantly improves the durability and sustainability of asphalt road surfaces

Directa Plus plc (AIM: DCTA), a producer and supplier of graphene-based products for use in consumer and industrial markets, is pleased to announce its collaboration with Iterchimica S.r.l., an established producer and distributor of specialised additives for asphalt. The collaboration with Iterchimica is focused on developing a graphene-enhanced asphalt additive, which is patent-pending, that can significantly improve the durability and sustainability of asphalt road surfaces. The new additive incorporating the Company's Graphene Plus (G+) has been launched by Iterchimica as Eco Pave.

Following the success of laboratory and small-scale trials, Iterchimica will now conduct a pilot test with an asphalt producer where Eco Pave will be used as an additive for asphalt covering several kilometres of road surface. The Company anticipates receiving an initial order for G+ before the year-end for the pilot test.

The presence of G+ produces a technically-advanced, sustainable additive that significantly enhances the performance of asphalt used for road surfacing. In particular, due to the thermal regulation properties of G+, the asphalt is less susceptible to hardening and cracking in cold temperatures as well as to softening in warm temperatures. It increases the elasticity and strength to reduce the wear, particularly with high loads, which is especially beneficial for maintenance purposes such as repairing potholes. In addition, road surfaces built with asphalt containing Eco Pave will be recyclable with up to 100% of the milled asphalt being repeatedly re-used to build a new pavement, which avoids the landfilling of the exhausted material as well as the extraction of new bitumen.

Based on their research, Iterchimica estimate that the addition of Eco Pave will extend the life of an asphalt road surface from the current average of 6-7 years to 12-14 years. Thanks to the joint R&D process undertaken by Directa Plus and Iterchimica, the parties have been able to produce Eco Pave at a commercially viable selling price. As a result, asphalt containing Eco Pave will significantly reduce maintenance costs for local administrations.

"We increasingly realise that a great part of the value of a product comes from its intangible dimension - where research, reputation and the meaning of what we want to achieve play a key role," said Giulio Cesareo, Chief Executive Officer of Directa Plus. "Asphalt enhanced with Graphene Plus is another development in terms of sustainability, which is a value that we at Directa Plus have firmly believed in from the very beginning. Our approach to sustainability includes a sustainable production process, sustainable products, and applications for sustainability such as using Grafysorber® to decontaminate water and now this application that extends asphalt life."

"Research and innovation have been the distinguishing features of Iterchimica since its foundation 50 years ago," added Federica Giannattasio, Chief Executive Officer of Iterchimica. "We were the first to create cold patch asphalts, and the first to create additives to recycle asphalts and to extend pavement life. The road is often in the news in relation to accidents or potholes, and few people are aware that there are technologies that can significantly improve its features with relevant environmental benefits and savings for public administrations, citizens and general contractors. This super-additive containing Graphene Plus demonstrates that it is possible to create sustainable and highly-performant road surfaces. The next step is to partner with an organisation that manages and builds roads to create the test routes that will validate the performance benefits of Eco Pave and lead to the eternal roads of the future."

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About Directa Plus

Directa Plus is one of the largest producers and suppliers of graphene-based products for use in consumer and industrial markets worldwide. By incorporating Directa Plus' unique graphene blends, identified by the G+ brand, its customers can enhance the performance of their end products without significantly increasing their cost. Directa Plus graphene-based products are natural, chemical-free, sustainably produced and tailored to specific customer requirements for commercial applications such as smart textiles, tyres, composite materials and environmental solutions.

Established in 2005, the Company has a patented technology process and a scalable and exportable manufacturing model. It produces graphene-based products at its own factory in Lomazzo, Italy, and can set up additional production at customer locations to reduce transport costs, waste and time-to-utilisation. Directa Plus partners with customers to enable them to offer the high-performance benefits of graphene in their own products.

About Iterchimica

Iterchimica S.r.l. is an Italian firm founded in 1967 by Gabriele Giannattasio and which now operates in over 80 countries providing additives for asphalt. Iterchimica produces and distributes products that enhance both asphalt performance and the laying of road surfaces in order to increase safety, environmental sustainability, and efficiency. The organization has commercial and production facilities in Europe and the Americas. Iterchimica collaborates with contracting authorities, construction companies, general contractors, and design studios in roadway planning, construction, and maintenance and in the provision of products and technical support. Iterchimica labs have been certified by the Italian Ministry of Education and Research, and the company maintains ongoing partnerships with the leading Italian universities with specializations in paving and chemical research. Iterchimica S.r.l. is a founding member of the Italian association for the asphalt industry, SITEB.