Nanocyl – Europe's leading producer of carbon nanotubes – launches NC9000: High-concentration Nanotube Polymer Blend

Citation

(2006), "Nanocyl – Europe's leading producer of carbon nanotubes – launches NC9000: High-concentration Nanotube Polymer Blend", Pigment & Resin Technology, Vol. 35 No. 3. https://doi.org/10.1108/prt.2006.12935cad.009

Nanocyl – Europe's leading producer of carbon nanotubes – launches NC9000: High-concentration Nanotube Polymer Blend

Nanocyl – Europe's leading producer of carbon nanotubes – launches NC9000: High- concentration Nanotube Polymer Blend

Keywords: Polymers, Coatings technology

Sambreville, Belgium, 20 October 2005 – Nanocyl – a global leader in the manufacturing of carbon nanotubes (CNTs) – announces the launch of the NC9000 series of CNTs. This Nanocyl patented process, originally developed at the department of Philippe Dubois of the University of Mons-Hainaut, is the basis for the production of this new line of products. NC9000 series are a high- concentration of pre-dispersed CNTs in polymers – enabling easy handling and dispersion of the CNT for a variety of industrial applications.

Development of a new line of products

The first grade manufactured is based on high-density polyethylene and is sold as Nanocyl(R) 9000. Available in concentrations up to 50 per cent, Nanocyl is currently developing this unique blend in other plastics – including engineered polymers.

Applications of Nanocyl(R) 9000

The first target application for the NC9000 series nanotube composite is as an additive for thermoplastics materials where anti-static or conductive properties are required. Industry sectors concerned most immediately for this product line are the automotive, electronics and chemical processing industries. Examples of applications are silicon wafer handling equipment and automotive fuel systems.

Commercialisation

According to Olivier Decroly, Global Business Development Manager at Nanocyl, “after an initial trial period during the first quarter of 2006, Nanocyl will scale-up the production volume to meet customer needs. This is a major step forward in the further development of the carbon nanotubes supply chain. And we are confident that this unique product line will help the industry to adopt the carbon nanotubes.” “The development of Nanocyl(R) 9000 is a breakthrough” emphasizes Nanocyl's Sales Manager Stephen Schulte. “NC9000 – a well-dispersed, 50 per cent CNT blend, along with the standard NC7000 – opens the door to a host of new end-users for carbon nanotubes from Nanocyl”. “This is all about responding to customer requests and requirements” states Nanocyl's Managing Director Francis Massin. “As an innovative application and market-driven company we will work hand-in-hand with the end-users to tailor our NC7000 and NC9000 series of carbon nanotubes to enhance our products' userfriendliness.”

About carbon nanotubes

A CNT is a tube-shaped material, made of graphitic carbon, that has a diameter measuring on the nanometre scale (a nanometre is one one-billionth of a meter, or about one ten-thousandth of the thickness of a human hair). CNTs typically have a diameter ranging from below 1nm up to 50nm; and lengths of from 100 to 1,000 times than their diameter. They possess properties of high electrical conductivity, exceptional mechanical strength and the ability to be chemically modified.