us offices tel : +1 781 261 9778 fax : +1 781 261 9769 info@us-nanocyl

www.nanocyl.comIndustry leader in carbon nanotubes-01|07www.nanocyl.com

US OfficesTel : +1 781 261 9778

Fax : +1 781 261 [email protected]

Nanocyl Headquaters BelgiumTel : +32 71 750 380Fax : +32 71 750 [email protected]

CEFIC stakeholder dialogue on Nanomaterials

The use of carbon nanotubes (CNTs)

can improve the eco-efficiency of materials

Nanocyl , Belgium

June 24, 2008


Short presentation of Nanocyl

• Medium size Belgian company, spin-off of two universities: Namur and Liège

• One of the leading producer of carbon nanotubes and of master batches in Europe

• Production and research facilities in Sambreville (Belgium)

• Cooperation with various research centres in Europe

• Proactive participation in toxicological studies


Interest of CNTs as filler in plastic materials

• Carbon nanotubes: a family of nanomaterials made up entirely of carbon.

• Structurally, multi-walled carbon nanotubes (MWCNTs) consist of multiple layers of graphite superimposed and rolled in on themselves to form a tubular shape.

• MWCNTs are characterised by – very high mechanical strength: 5 times lighter than steel and

20 to 100 times stronger depending on the occurrence of defects in the structure,

– very good electrical conductivity, as conductive as copper – very good thermal conductivity: same as that of diamond and

more than twice that of copper.

• They can be easily dispersed in plastic materials


Examples of improved properties (1)

• Conductive compoundsCNT technology allow to prepare conductive compounds with a loading less than 2-3 % resulting in a weight reduction of 5-15 % compared to other conductive fillers for comparable performance

Electrical conductivity vs. Carbon loading

1,E-18

1,E-16

1,E-14

1,E-12

1,E-10

1,E-08

1,E-06

1,E-04

1,E-02

1,E+00

1,E+02

0 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15Carbon loading, wt %

Nanocyl 7000

Standard Carbon Black

Highly conductive Carbon Black

Co

nd

uc

tiv

ity

, S/m


Examples of improved properties (2)

• Mechanical

CNT allow the production of thinner parts with the same mechanical/conductivity balance than other fillers.

This results in a weight reduction of ca. 10-20 %

Influence of the additive on Impact strength

Conductive PC compounds designed with Rv < 103 Ohm.cm

0

5

10

15

20

MWNT CF CB

Not

ched

Cha

rpy

(kJ/

m2)

Influence of the additive on elongontation at break,

Conductive PC compounds designed with Rv < 103 Ohm.cm

0

5

10

15

20

MWNT CF CB

Elo

ng

atio

n @

bre

ak (

%)


Examples of application: weight reduction

• Application in the automotive industry – CNT technology, through displacement of existing technology

due to better mechanical properties, can result in a reduction of 10-30 kg per car.

– As a reduction of weight of 100kg results in a reduction of fuel consumption of 0.5L/100km. (Resource National Canada and Gent Univ.), a world wide application of CNT technology could lead to a global reduction of about 1MT of fuel consumption.

• Application in aircraft industry– CNT technology can allow 10-15 wt% weight reduction at

equal mechanical performances– This would lead to a kerosene saving of 0.7-1.5 m³/plane/flight


Examples of application: fire protection

• CNT can be used as non halogenated flame retardant– Improvement of thermal stability: about 100°C for polyethylene in a

classical test

– With a lower filler content: from 40-60 % to 20-30 %

– With a weight reduction of : 5-25 %

– With less thread to the environment

• CNT can improve thermal protection coating– Protection of metal and other substrate by a thin layer of plastic

material containing less than 1wt% of additive, instead of commercial solutions containing 40 % of additive

– This leads to weight reduction in insulation.

– In aircraft tankers for example: reduction of 2-5 kg per tanker with the consecutive reduction of kerosene consumption.


Examples of application: anti-fouling

Anti fouling is saving 120 million tons of fuel per yearTo avoid adverse effects in the environment, new non-biocidal

antifouling technologies are needed

0

0,05

0,1

0,15

0,2

0,25

0,3

T2 Unfilled PDMS 0.05 % CNTs

forc

e pe

r un

it ar

ea (N

.mm

- 2)

« theoretical lower adhesion limit »

Adhesion strength of young adult barnacles

T2 unfilled resin CNT based resin

• Much lower Much lower adhesion strengthadhesion strength

• No more trace of No more trace of basal plate basal plate remaining attached remaining attached to the surfaceto the surface

Biological evaluation of CNT based resin


Benefits: summary• In all these examples the use of CNT

provides the following benefits:– less resources needed due to better efficiency,

weight reduction and waste reduction

– less energy consumption leading to less CO2 emission

– better eco-efficiency: in fire protection and anti-fouling

– longer life cycle by improvement of ageing resistance


Hazard assessment of CNTs• Toxicology studies carried out by

Nanocyl according to OECD protocols:

– No acute dermal toxicity: no local irritation, no sensitization (Namur university, Straticell, JRC-Ispra)

– No in vitro mutagenicity (Ames test)– No in vitro cytotoxicity (JRC –Ispra)– In vivo inhalation studies going on (OECD

413 (90 days) :GLP study at BASF)


European cooperation in HSE

• Nanocyl is involved in several EU projects dealing with HSE issues

• Nanocyl is member of the PACTE sector group within CEFIC, in which the European carbon nanotubes producers are sharing HSE information, developing research projects and reviewing the safest ways of handling CNTS at production site and along the user chain (code of conduct)

• Nanocyl: a SME well active in risk research


Exposure assessment of CNTs (1)

Only a small fraction of CNTs is inhalable


Exposure assessment of CNTs (2)Difficulties in measuring particle size distribution in the nano range: cooperation with Naneum to develop detection devices.

Example of particle size distribution of an artificially produced aerosol


Exposure assessment of CNTs (3)

Minimising workers exposure– Production in closed process– Protective equipment and ventilation to

reduce possible exposure– MSDS and Code of conduct provided to

customers

No direct environmental exposure– Closed process– Nanotubes embedded in polymer matrices


Prospective

• Use of the results of EU research projects on toxicity of nanomaterials

• Definition of an OEL for workers?• Measure of concentration and particle size

distribution in air and comparison to background in production, research and development.

• Registration under REACH• Willingness to be transparent: LCA and risk

benefits analysis


Thank you for your attention

Question time


Differences: CNT vs. asbestosCarbon nanotubes

Nanoscale and low rigidity

Spaghetti like agglomerates

Asbestos

Micro scale and high rigidity

Bundle like agglomerates


Differences: CNT vs. asbestos

• According to Donaldson

“Short or curly carbon nanotubes did not behave like asbestos, and by knowing the possible dangers of long, thin carbon nanotubes, we can work to control them. It’s a good news story, not a bad one. It shows that carbon nanotubes and their products could be made to be safe.”


Examples of improved properties (3)• Longer life product improved life cycle

Ageing Photo-oxidation

0

0,1

0,2

0,3

0,4

0,5

0,6

0 5 10 15 20 25 30 35 40 45

Time (h)

conc

entr

atio

n of

car

bony

l gro

ups

(mol

/l)

0,1% with PE coating

1% with PE coating

0,1% without coating

1% without coating

(a)

0 100 200 300 4000,00

0,01

0,02

0,03

0,04

0,05

0,06

0,07PEPE + MWNT

U.A

.

Time (h)


•Thermal barrier coating ThermoCyl

•ISO 2685/ 1100°C / 116±10 kW/m2

•This document is the property of NANOCYL SA

Examples of application: fire protection (2)


Interest of CNT in plastic processing • Through their action on the viscosity, CNT can

improve by a factor of 5 the productivity in extrusion of thermoplastic polyurethane

• In injection moulding, the use of CNT can reduce the distortion of injected parts and then reduce industrial waste during the processing and in particular during the development phase.

us offices tel : +1 781 261 9778 fax : +1 781 261 9769 info@us-nanocyl

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