▎ 摘　　要

NOVELTY - Graphene-based composite comprises graphene-based material intercalated with hydrated sodium metaborate. USE - The composite is useful for improving at least one property of a substrate (claimed). ADVANTAGE - The composite: provides substrate which exhibits improved fire retardant properties, improved abrasion resistance and/or improved antimicrobial properties, relative to the substrate absent the graphene-based composite (claimed); and utilizes the graphene-based material which is believed to function synergistically to promote fire resistance by providing at least four combined functions including preventing access of oxygen to the flammable substrate, (providing self-extinguishing properties, preventing escape of toxic and flammable volatiles from the substrate, and exhibiting char formation and an intumescent effect. DETAILED DESCRIPTION - INDEPENDENT CLAIMS are also included for: (1) preparing (M1) the graphene-based composite, comprising (i) providing a liquid composition comprising graphene-based material and hydrated sodium metaborate, and (ii) removing liquid from the composition so as to retain the graphene-based material and hydrated sodium metaborate in the composition, where the process of removing liquid in the step (ii) promotes intercalation of the hydrated sodium metaborate in the graphene-based material to obtain the graphene-based composite; (2) a substrate comprising the graphene-based composite; and (3) improving (M2) at least one property of the substrate, comprising providing the substrate with the graphene-based composite.