additives | Electrically conductive
Right: An artistic
representation of a CarbonX aggregate (diameter approx. 2
micron). The inset image
shows a typical network junction
over the past few years the company’s NC7000 product has penetrated large volume markets in thermoplastic commodities segments including automotive, electronic packaging, and energy. Nanocyl’s MWCNT materials are typically replacing
conventional carbon blacks. One reason for their adoption is that MWCNTs can add conductivity to plastics compounds at very low loadings. “Moreover, MWCNTs allow new multifunc- tional materials to emerge,” Clerbaux says. Industrial fan blades for cooling towers in
explosive (ATEX) environments have been produced by Nanocyl and Italian compounder Vamp Tech (which specialises in flame retardant compounds) based on a PA6/
Right: An electrically
conductive and flame retardant prototype fan blade. This one is around 50 cm long but
industrial fan blades can measure a
metre or more. (Image: Nanocyl)
increased interaction between polymer chains and filler caused by the high porosity,” Sordi says. CarbonX can be processed using standard plastics mixing and compounding equipment without the addition of dispersing agents, and compounds produced are fully recyclable. “The porous network allows polymer chains to deeply penetrate into the structure,” Sordi notes. “As a result, a perfect embedding is ensured, while 3D-hindrance prevents agglomeration.” CarbonX provides a wide window for dosage control and is non-sloughing up to dosage levels of around 30% by weight. The company says it is targeting lightweight opportunities in automotive, aerospace, electronics, construction and wind energy industries. Sordi says a typical target application is antistatic pallets for transport- ing electronics, where CarbonX can provide an alternative to compounds containing carbon black and glass fibres. The additive can also enhance thermal conductivity, with the company claiming the ability to reach up to 1 W/m.K, both in-plane and through-plane. Material is currently available in sample quantities of 25 kg and upwards. Total production capacity is 10 tonnes/yr and the company is aiming to increase this to 50 tones/yr before the end of next year. “Due to the robust and scalable production process of CarbonX, it can be offered at a
competitive price point,” says Sordi. “Currently, we’re working on CarbonX in pelletized form. Masterbatches can be provided by our partners upon request.”
Carbon nanotubes Time will tell how CarbonX fares in the market against current commercial offerings. At multiwall carbon nanotube (MWCNT) specialist Nanocyl, marketing and communication analyst Alexandre Clerbaux says that
28 COMPOUNDING WORLD | April 2016 MWCNT formulation. These blades are dissipative (108
Ω/sq) and achieve a UL94 V-0 flammability rating at a thickness of 0.8 mm. Impact strength, elongation at break and flexural strength are at the same level as currently used compounds. Clerbaux also says MWCNTs are ideal conductive
additives for 3D printing filaments using Fused Deposition Modelling (FDM) technology. He says highly conductive filaments allow the creation of multifunc- tional components such as circuits, power connectors, voltage dividers, buttons, and so on “for electronics and other applications yet to imagine.” Nanocyl provides standard masterbatches in ABS and PA with 15% (by weight) NC7000, as well as custom masterbatches (including PLA). One compounder already offering electrically
conductive materials for 3D printing is Lati. Early offerings are based on modified PLA, which is among the most popular polymers for this production technology and especially for the desktop systems market. Lati cites a
compound “obtained by formula- tions containing frontier materials, among which are
carbon nanotubes.” It does not name the supplier of the CNTs it uses.
Carbon black options Carbon black, of course, still holds the major share of the market for conductive and antistatic plastics compounds and Christine Van Bellingen, global polymer technical leader at Imerys Graphite & Carbon, emphasises the importance of controlling moisture levels in such compounds. The company’s Ensaco250G, a highly hydrophobic conductive carbon black, is claimed to exhibit the lowest moisture content and pick-up of any conductive carbon black.
www.compoundingworld.com
s
Page 1 |
Page 2 |
Page 3 |
Page 4 |
Page 5 |
Page 6 |
Page 7 |
Page 8 |
Page 9 |
Page 10 |
Page 11 |
Page 12 |
Page 13 |
Page 14 |
Page 15 |
Page 16 |
Page 17 |
Page 18 |
Page 19 |
Page 20 |
Page 21 |
Page 22 |
Page 23 |
Page 24 |
Page 25 |
Page 26 |
Page 27 |
Page 28 |
Page 29 |
Page 30 |
Page 31 |
Page 32 |
Page 33 |
Page 34 |
Page 35 |
Page 36 |
Page 37 |
Page 38 |
Page 39 |
Page 40 |
Page 41 |
Page 42 |
Page 43 |
Page 44 |
Page 45 |
Page 46 |
Page 47 |
Page 48 |
Page 49 |
Page 50 |
Page 51 |
Page 52 |
Page 53 |
Page 54 |
Page 55 |
Page 56 |
Page 57 |
Page 58 |
Page 59 |
Page 60 |
Page 61 |
Page 62 |
Page 63 |
Page 64 |
Page 65 |
Page 66 |
Page 67 |
Page 68 |
Page 69 |
Page 70 |
Page 71 |
Page 72 |
Page 73 |
Page 74 |
Page 75 |
Page 76 |
Page 77 |
Page 78 |
Page 79 |
Page 80 |
Page 81 |
Page 82 |
Page 83 |
Page 84 |
Page 85 |
Page 86 |
Page 87 |
Page 88