According to an article on LinkedIn, Galvorn is stronger than steel, lighter than aluminum, and has the conductivity of copper. While the jury is still out on whether it’s faster than a high-velocity bullet, experts at Houston-based DexMat say their product could revolutionize the green tech sector.
According to a report by GreenBiz, Galvorn could be an alternative to rare and expensive copper, an important metal in electronics. What’s more, the inventors plan to replace dirty materials, contribute to cleaner air, and advance green technology with the launch of their “miracle” material.
According to GreenBiz, Galvorn is the result of more than $20 million in investment from two U.S. Air Force research agencies, the Department of Energy and NASA, as well as other technology giants.
“The potential climate impact of DexMat has our heads spinning,” investor Shomik Dutta, managing partner at Overture Climate VC, told GreenBiz in a gushing review.
Galvorn can be made into ribbons, yarn, thread or netting. Its makers say JRR Tolkien’s The Lord of the Rings was an inspiration in the process, although at first glance you wouldn’t think it would be able to withstand an orc’s blade.
“[A] “A skilled elf smith named Eöl has created a new type of metal called galvorn, which is described as thin and pliable but also strong enough to be used as armor,” DexMat shared on the company blog, describing how the creators came up with the name.
While Galvorn wasn’t created in an elven forge, the real-life version of Galvorn came from an equally impressive process. According to GreenBiz, this is a high-tech technology that involves the cracking of hydrocarbons.
The impact on consumers will be felt in applications. Lighter and faster vehicles, lighter wind turbine blades and improved battery conductivity for renewable energy storage are among the advantages Galvorn is about to realize, according to GreenBiz. It has been used to help de-ice aircraft wings.
Dutta points out in the GreenBiz article that putting Galvorn fibers into concrete and other materials can make buildings and infrastructure stronger and extend their lifespan. DexMat aims to make high-carbon resources such as copper “obsolete”.
“The climate crisis, the clean energy transition and the ‘Electrify Everything’ movement are driving a massive transformation of industry and infrastructure around the world,” the website states.
DexMat touts a clean manufacturing process that uses electricity, sometimes powered by renewable energy. The company claims that because Galvorn is made of carbon, it “locks the heat-trapping element in for long-term storage without contributing to global warming.”
“Of all the things we touch, this has the potential to have the biggest impact in most places,” Dutta told GreenBiz.
Get TCD’s free newsletter for simple tips to save more, reduce waste and make smarter choices, and earn up to $5,000 toward clean upgrades in TCD’s exclusive Rewards Club.
