Directa Plus Regulatory News (DCTA)

RNS Reach

29 June 2023

Directa Plus plc

("Directa Plus", the "Group" or the "Company")

Directa Plus receives two new Italian patents

Directa Plus (AIM: DCTA), a leading producer and supplier of graphene nanoplatelets based products for use in consumer and industrial markets, has been granted two new Italian patents, the EP patent, which relates to the 'apparatus for treating materials with plasma', and the ET patent, which relates to the 'composition comprising graphene for the treatment of textile articles'.

These new grants represent a step forward in Directa Plus' intellectual property strategy and protects the Company's unique production process and the evolution of its graphene technology. Following the grant of the two patents, Directa Plus' IP portfolio now comprises of 22 patent families, with 84 patents granted and 38 patents pending.

EP patent

Covers the apparatus for treating materials with plasma, in particular a device comprising a plasma microwave generator, a waveguide, and a microwave system torch, suitable for generating and sustaining atmospheric thermal plasma for treating powder materials. This is key to the Group's IP strategy as plasma technology sits at the core of Directa Plus' unique production process and is what distinguishes the Company from its competitors. Through its plasma technology, Directa Plus generates super-expanded graphite (Grafysorber®) with unique properties and performances in a chemical-free process. The EP patent is the technical evolution of the patent for 'production of nano-structures', and covers all the engineering improvements made to the plasma system to enhance the performance of the technology in terms of yields and the quality of the super expanded graphite obtained. The patent priority date is 19 December 2018.

ET Patent

Covers the composition for treating textile articles and is a further evolution of the use of G+ in textiles, expanding the Group's patent coverage in textile applications. It covers a 100% natural and environmentally sustainable printing paste enhanced by graphene's antimicrobial, electrical and thermal conductivity properties. The patent also protects textile articles treated with the composition, including manufactured products for personal health protection. The natural make-up of this composition firmly aligns with Directa Plus' focus on sustainability and environmental protection. The patent priority date is the 4 May 2021.

Commenting, Giulio Cesareo, Founder and CEO of Directa Plus, said: "Receiving a further two patents has not only strengthened Directa Plus' IP portfolio but demonstrates the ability of our graphene technology to be used across a range of applications and reinforces our position in fast growing markets. As we look to further our competitive advantage, we will continue to aggressively expand our portfolio, covering both technology and applications."

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Notes to Editors

Directa Plus (www.directa-plus.com) is one of the largest producers and suppliers of graphene-based products for use in consumer and industrial markets. The Company's graphene manufacturing capability uses proprietary patented technology based on a plasma super expansion process. Starting from natural graphite, each step of Directa Plus' production process - expansion, exfoliation and drying - creates graphene-based materials and hybrid graphene materials ready for a variety of uses and available in various forms such as powder, liquid and paste.

This proprietary production process uses a physical process, rather than a chemical process, to process graphite into pristine graphene nanoplatelets, which enables Directa Plus to offer a sustainable, non-toxic product, without unwanted by-products.

Directa Plus' products are made of hybrid graphene materials and graphene nano-platelets. The products (marketed as G+(R)) have multiple applications due to its properties. These G+(R) products can be categorised into various families, with different products being suitable for specific practical applications.

Directa Plus was established in 2005 and is based in Lomazzo (Como, Italy) and has been listed on the AIM market of the London Stock Exchange since May 2016. Directa Plus holds the Green Economy Mark from London Stock Exchange which recognises companies that contribute to the global green economy.