Sparc Technologies (ASX: SPN) has secured a commercial pathway for its graphene-based ecosparc additive through AkzoNobel’s planned Australian release of an enhanced version of the heavy-duty Interzone 954 protective coating.
AkzoNobel will make ecosparc enhanced Interzone 954 available in Australia from May 2026 on a made-to-order basis through its local manufacturing facility.
The release follows more than six years of ecosparc research and development by Sparc and several years of collaboration with AkzoNobel across laboratory testing and field trials.
Field trials for the graphene-enhanced coating have now been running for more than 21 months, providing the technical foundation for AkzoNobel to add the product to its Australian range.
With a global track record of more than 25 years, Interzone 954 has been used across offshore oil and gas facilities, offshore wind towers, jetties, sluice gates, and petrochemical plants.
AkzoNobel Release Validates ecosparc Platform
Sparc managing director Nick O’Loughlin described the commercial release as a significant breakthrough for both the company and the broader graphene industry.
“Following on from the first commercial sale of ecosparc in December 2025, the commercial release of ecosparc enhanced Interzone 954 from AkzoNobel provides a significant platform for revenue growth,” Mr O’Loughlin said.
“A product release from a global leader such as AkzoNobel is strong validation for Sparc Technologies which has spent over six years developing the market leading graphene additive for protective coatings.”
“This important development provides further evidence of the growing adoption of graphene within industrial materials and Sparc’s leading position in this area.”
Additive Supply Commercial Terms Set
AkzoNobel’s release commitment is based on an agreed price per kilogram for the ecosparc additive, although the price remains commercial in confidence.
The arrangement does not include a fixed term or minimum volumes, and Sparc cautioned investors not to rely on revenue generation from Australian sales of ecosparc-enhanced Interzone 954.
The product marks the first widely used protective coating to incorporate Sparc’s ecosparc graphene-based additive.
AkzoNobel—which operates in more than 150 countries and employs about 31,500 people—delivered 2025 revenue of €10.2 billion, with coatings brands including Dulux, International, Sikkens, and Interpon.
Protective Coatings Market the Target
Sparc has developed ecosparc as a performance additive for commercially available epoxy-based protective coatings.
The additive is designed to improve coating performance at low dosages, supporting the reliability, longevity, safety and cost-effectiveness of the steel infrastructure it protects.
Multiple global coatings companies are evaluating ecosparc in anti-corrosive coatings, while Sparc is also targeting asset owners through field trials in a range of corrosive environments.
The company estimates ecosparc has a target addressable market of about US$1.0 billion per annum within the broader anti-corrosive protective coatings market, while noting that target markets do not represent revenue guidance and remain subject to access barriers.
