Recently, our industry colleague HexArmor shared an article discussing graphene and concerns regarding misleading cut resistance claims in the market. We appreciate the transparency and critical questions raised about whether graphene delivers on its promises. However, we would like to address some inaccuracies in the article and share our
own insights.

One notable inaccuracy concerns graphene’s cost. The claim that “pure graphene” costs $400 per gram is misleading. In reality, market prices for dierent forms of graphene– mono layer, few-layer, or graphene oxide– are widely available and signicantly lower than stated in the article.

Additionally, the assertion that graphene “does not work” is unfounded. Graphene enhanced materials are already being utilized across various industries. For example, HEAD incorporates graphene into tennis rackets and skis, Philips integrates it into noise canceling headphones, and Lee, a customer of Kyorene®, has developed graphene infused denim. Beyond sports and textiles, graphene is also enhancing semiconductors, batteries, sensors, construction materials, and solar panels. The widespread adoption of graphene across industries demonstrates its real, measurable benefits. Even the author of the article later clarfied on LinkedIn, stating:

“We want to clarify that we did not claim graphene ‘does not work.’ In fact, we nd the future of graphene in materials science incredibly exciting and never stated that graphene is ineffective in all use cases.”

We fully agree with the article’s concerns regarding companies misrepresenting their materials and expertise. The case study by The Graphene Council, which tested five commercially available graphene gloves, revealed that only one company actually incorporated graphene into its products. The author confirmed this by stating:

“Despite our competitors’ complaints and continued misdirection attempts, the simple fact remains: 4 out of 5 gloves tested did not contain graphene. The Truth in Safety blog is vital in our battle against low-cost PPE providers using false claims to gain trust”.

Kyorene® was the only company in this study that actually used graphene in its products, and we take pride in producing mono-layer graphene.

Graphene textiles offer a range of proven benefits beyond just strength enhancement. Properties such as thermal regulation, odor neutralization, bacteriostatic effects, and UV protection make graphene textiles a game-changer in the industry.

Lastly, we strongly agree with HexArmor’s concerns about misinformation regarding cut resistance. Mislabeling protective gloves with exaggerated cut resistance levels– sometimes inflating ratings by 2 to 3 levels– is a serious issue that must be addressed. However, this issue is unrelated to graphene itself. Cut-resistant gloves undergo rigorous standardized testing, and we believe in the importance of substantiating all claims. At our company, every product undergoes thorough in-house and third-party testing to ensure compliance with safety standards.

At the end of the day, our mission is to protect workers. If some companies prioritize short term profits over safety by misrepresenting cut resistance levels, we encourage users to conduct their own random tests to verify product claims. Such misleading and unethical practices have no place in the industry.

This has been an insightful exchange with our industry colleagues. Together, let’s work toward a safer environment for all!