The hottest nano makes the world more beautiful

Nano, make the world more beautiful

-- plastic products processed with carbon nanotube materials (CNTs) have a huge market potential. It is expected that nanocomposite products will partially replace traditional reinforced plastic products and be used in the construction industry, automotive parts, household appliances and sporting goods, packaging materials, electronic components and high-performance products such as spacecraft and military equipment. However, health and safety issues have been questioned

a quick glance at the world of nanocomposites gives the impression that more talk, less work. The number of manufacturers using the disclosed nano materials for commercial operation can be said to be very few

therefore, this article may bring a surprise: hyperioncatalysis (Cambridge, Massachusetts), the world's leading supplier of multi wall carbon nanotube materials (MWNTs), said that about 60% of the cars produced in the United States currently use the company's products in fuel pipelines to prevent the accumulation of static electricity. The company said that the reason why it has achieved this impressive market position is that the nanotube material containing composite materials simplifies the production process of fuel pipelines (eliminating complex composite extrusion processing), and its cost is more competitive than other methods of production

these nanotube materials (Hyperion's brand name is fibrils) are also found in some composite materials used for exterior parts of car bodies, which can make these parts do not affect the toughness of thermoplastic when electrostatic spraying. These nanotube materials are also widely used in electronic products, such as hard disk drive disks and chip carrier products. In these products, the anti skin peeling performance of nanotube materials is better than other conductor filling materials such as carbon black

hyperion didn't specify which specific automotive products contain fibrils brand materials. Pat Collins, sales and marketing manager, just said that the company was in talks with all major suppliers of engineered thermosetting plastics for protective plate purposes. GE Plastics has used fibrils brand materials in the past, but it is unclear whether they are still used now; In automotive applications, cost is the key. Although the increase level is only 2%, multi walled carbon nanotube materials are not cheap (it is said to be more than $750 per kilogram). At the same time, Hyperion is trying to expand its business (it pre disperses nanotube materials into composite materials and concentrated materials for sale, rather than selling them as pure nanotube materials). It also seeks to enter more market segments for sales

"we have never seen costless nanotube materials"

Collins said that the composite processing of this industry needs to overcome two problems. First, nano additives are difficult to disperse, because the high-strength van der Waals force makes nano additives gather together. However, Hyperion has developed special equipment for nano material composite processing. Second, the debate about customers' concerns about health and safety is becoming more and more obvious in the nanotechnology industry. "But once the nanotube material is molded into plastic products, there is no problem with health and safety." Collins said, "you can grind and polish the components and products, and you will love personalized nanotube materials."

what measures has Hyperion taken for health and safety? "We try our best to ensure that the whole processing process is completely closed. We have never seen nanotube materials without cost."

nevertheless, there is still progress. Carbon nanotechnology Co., Ltd. (Houston, Texas) is currently building an experimental plant with a daily capacity of about 100 pounds (45 kilograms). Bob Galway, the president and CEO of the company, expects the experimental plant to "do some early pilot production in the third quarter. Our plan is to build a larger plant in 2005."

according to covey, "carbon nanotechnology Co., Ltd. (CNI) owns our products in about 400 markets around the world. Some of our customers say they are close to commercial applications, including testing products with their customers." "We have confidentiality agreements with many of our customers, so we can't talk about specific content." Gao Wei said

"however, applications include flat panel instrument display panels, electronic products, electrostatic dissipation, electromagnetic protection, high-strength composites and fibers, and fuel tanks."

production of single-walled nanotube materials

the first commercial production and processing of high-purity single-walled nanotube materials in the UK was commissioned by the powerful chemical company Thomas Swann Co., Ltd. (konset, UK) earlier this year. 1. Maximum static experimental force: 2Kn. "The original intention of the commercial production of carbon nanotube materials with stable quality and appropriate price is to release the potential of these materials for broad industrial applications." The company said. The company will sell ericarb branded nanotube materials at $350 per gram. "The company now has the ability to use inventory to supply orders measured in kilograms. However, the company has reservations about production capacity until the factory starts less than a month or until accurate and reliable data are collected." A representative of the company said. In February 2004, carbon nanotechnology Co., Ltd. announced that it had obtained a patent, which was called "the heart center of nanotechnology application and development in the real world". It describes the relationship between carbon nanotube materials and other kinds of base materials: "it greatly improves the potential of carbon nanotube materials to ensure that the frame has sufficient stiffness and expands their end use range". Richard smallsey licensed the Nobel Prize winning technology exclusively to carbon nanotechnology Co., Ltd. (CNI). The company quoted Richard smallsey as saying: "it is unimaginable to obtain this patented technology without improving the application of carbon nanotechnology." The patent can "dramatically improve" the physical properties of a new level of nanocomposite products and fibers

in April 2004, zyvex Corp. introduced the first two additive products based on nanotube materials for the production line of nanosolve to produce polyurethane. One of the additives is based on single-walled carbon nanotube materials, and the other is based on multi walled carbon nanotube materials, both of which are from outside factories. The company said that these additives improve the conductivity and mechanical strength of the main material. Conductivity can be improved by 10 levels. Zwicks is considering applications in print, automotive components, heat sealing pipes, floor laying and other fields. The factory has additives for other plastic products, including epoxy resin products, polycarbonate products, polystyrene and a confidential material produced for the U.S. military

zwicks has developed surface treatment technology, which is said to be able to disperse carbon nanotube materials (CNTs) in a variety of solvents (including water) and improve the interaction between carbon nanotube materials and main substrates. A multifunctional "bridge" between the side wall of the carbon nanotube material and the main material includes two main vectors: one vector tends to adhere to the nanotube material, and the other has the property of tending to adhere to the main material. Mark barnash, a senior engineer in nano materials, said that the bonding level between polymer and nanotube materials processed with zwicks' "kentera" process technology is much higher than that between nanotube materials themselves. He also said that bonding has a strong resistance to thermal cycling

zwicks also signed a two-year work contract with the National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA) and cooperated with the University of Texas Institute of nanotechnology in Dallas to develop a material that is said to be the toughest in the world. NASA needs new materials to improve the space shuttle, launch vehicles and the performance of space stations

advantages and challenges

banash estimated that the market could withstand the high price of nanotube materials. "In the plastic products market, we have cleanly knocked down those big players who completed 38% of coal, because they thought it was a substitute for carbon black. In fact, it is not a large chemical raw material. In some cases, single-walled nanotube materials sell for $500 per gram. However, we are targeting those who adopt this technology in the automotive industry, who need a competitive advantage, and now we need it. We are Negotiate something that uses a very low amount of filler, in some cases only a quarter of a percentage by weight. If you have 20 dollars per pound of resin, you say that if you increase the price by 2 dollars, you will get a resin with greatly improved performance. People can agree with this. "

first of all, the executive officer of the freedoniagroup provided good news. The group has made a new detailed report on the nanocomposite product market. The summary is as follows: the demand for nanocomposite products in the U.S. market is expected to increase to 345 million pounds (158, 000 tons) in 2008 and close to 11 billion pounds (5 million tons) in 2020, with a value of 37 billion dollars

at that time, it is expected that nanocomposite products will partially replace traditional reinforced plastic products. When applied to the contact of long-chain molecules in buildings, it will produce intertwined molecular rigid clusters, automotive components, consumer goods such as household appliances and sporting goods, packaging materials, electronic components and other equipment, as well as high-performance products such as spacecraft and military equipment

now, let's look at the bad news, This is the latest report of the Washington Post:

"Research has shown that nanoparticles can play the role of toxic substances in the environment and accumulate in animals' bodies. The first two studies on the health effects of engineered nanoparticles published in January have proved that its damage to the lungs is more serious than conventional toxic dust. In California, some people are trying to prevent the construction of a nanotechnology factory because they note that government agencies have not formulated Safety regulations for nano products. Others hope to call a full stop before the risks are clear. "

however, don't think that the nanotechnology industry has entered a dead end like the genetically modified crops made by Monsanto and others. Soon, the nano world will come back to life. As mark Ratner, author of "Nanotechnology: the next big thing", believes firmly, people have learned from the disaster of genetic improvement. The producers of nanoparticles argue that their products are safe once they become composite products. Moreover, government agencies around the world are injecting millions of dollars into nanotechnology. However, due to the political sensitivity of the saying "what if it is", it cannot be ruled out that there may be restrictions in at least some areas of nanotechnology development

president and CEO of carbon nanotechnology Co., Ltd. (CNI)