TECHNOLOGY | CONDUCTIVE PLASTICS
Right: A producer of anti-static rotational
moulded tanks is using OCSiAl’s SWCNTs to produce colour- able anti-static containers
Most of these existing partnerships are covered
by NDAs but one cited by the company relates to the application of Tuball SWCNTs in rigid anti-static packaging produced by rotational moulding. The end-user required a coloured PE packaging container for flammable and explosive liquids and powders that provided a permanent and stable surface resistivity in the range 106
–109
Right: OCSiAl says PE film containing 0.01 wt% SWCNTs displays a permanent antistatic effect
ohm-sq.
Using the Tuball Matrix 801 nanotube concentrate at an addition of 0.07 wt% was sufficient to provide permanent surface resistivity of 107
ohm-sq in
coloured tanks, while 0.1 wt% of Tuball achieved a surface resistivity of 106
ohm-sq in the black tanks.
Mechanical strength is said to be maintained. Another OCSiAl client required a semi-conduc- tive compound destined for medium- and high- voltage power cables offering a volume resistivity of less than 20 ohm·cm at 23°C and less than 100 ohm·cm at 90°C. The compound had to provide permanent and stable electrical conductivity while meeting demanding mechanical requirements. Tuball Matrix 801 product has met these require- ments, offering the additional benefits of low moisture absorption and reduced density. OCSiAl says another of its customers is produc- ing PE anti-static blown film using 0.01 wt% of Tuball nanotubes introduced in the form of a concentrate – Matrix 810. This has enabled it to achieve the required level of surface resistivity of 5×109
–1010
Right: Semi- conductive compounds for medium- and high-voltage power cables are being produced with SWCNTs, according to OCSiAl
50 ohm-sq.
At the Nanoaugmented Materials Industry Summit 2017 organised last year by OCSiAl, Daniel Florenthal, Joint CEO of Israel-based Florma, spoke about a new free flowing, dust free, polymer base powder containing Tuball for conductive com- pounds that is now being produced by his com- pany. “We used Tuball at 0.2% in ABS and PA with our Fliquid system and achieved very good conductivity,” he said. “Our newest development is Fliquid Powder system based on polymer powder blend to allow easy dispersing in various systems.”
COMPOUNDING WORLD | February 2018
Alternative nano-forms A recent entry into the field of nanoparticulate additives is CarbonX. This Netherlands-based company makes a product, also called CarbonX, that comprises a 3D network of nano fibres. Daniela Sordi, Chief Technology Officer at the firm, recently said it is preparing a commercial scale-up trial as part of its plan to increase annual produc- tion capacity above its current 50 tonnes. “Six different grades will be available for sampling in March,” Sordi says. “The six new grades are especially designed to serve applications in which high electrical conductivity or mechanical reinforcement and static dissipative features are desired.” The grades are characterised by medium and very high structure combined with a range of surface areas for different technical requirements and processing needs.
Also operating on the nano frontier is The Mackinac Group. It has developed technology for incorporating nano-scale conductive transition metals directly into the polymer backbone or onto side chains during the polymerisation process. It says conductivity of materials produced this way is much more controllable and uniform than is possible by incorporating conductive additives during the compounding process. Mackinac President Donald Phillips says the company has two new products using its propri- etary nano science. One is an anti-stat sprayable polyurea and the other is a thermoplastic polyure- thane (TPU). The polyurea has a surface resistivity of 106
ohm-sq while the TPU can be as low as 102 ohm-sq (the latter can be made as an ester or ether version and can be extruded or injection moulded). The polyurea is already commercial and the TPU should be ready in either the second or third quarter of this year. Materials with resistivities in the 10-3
www.compoundingworld.com
PHOTO: OCSIAL
PHOTO: OCSIAL
PHOTO: OCSIAL
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