Hyperion Catalysis International: Conductive Fluoropolymer Masterbatches & Compounds Made with Nanotubes
Hyperion Catalysis International, the world’s only tonnage producer of carbon nanotubes, has introduced a new family of conductive thermoplastic fluoropolymer masterbatches and compounds containing its Fibril nanotubes. The new products are for use in automotive, electronics, and materials-handling markets, and are suited to uses requiring control of static electricity, combined with chemical resistance, high barrier to chemical permeation, inherent lubricity, and/or resistance to sloughing (rub-off).
The first offerings are ETFE and PVDF pellet masterbatches and compounds; additional products are under development. The fluoropolymers augment Hyperion’s growing lines of conductive thermoplastic masterbatches and compounds containing Fibril nanotubes. Hyperion’s carbon nanotubes are 10-12 nm in diameter – more than 5000-times thinner than a human hair – and 10-15 microns long. Their very-high aspect ratio (over 1:1000) confers electrical conductivity at very low loadings (1% to 3% for electrostatic dissipation). Processors can vary the letdown ratio on masterbatches to optimize the conductivity level of a finished plastic part for its application requirements. Compounds have also been formulated to meet various electrostatic-dissipative (ESD) or EMI/RFI conductivity levels.