SouthWest NanoTechnologies
(SWeNT), a privately-held specialty materials company that manufactures
high quality single-wall and specialty multi-wall carbon nanotubes for a range
of products, today introduced a new category of Carbon Nanotube (CNT) materials
it refers to as "Specialty" Multi-Wall (SMW).
These new SWeNT® SMW 100 materials were developed for polymer composites
that require better electrical and mechanical performance than are possible
from conventional Multi-Wall CNT, without the cost or dispersion difficulties
associated with Single-Wall CNT. Target applications for SMW materials include
conductive polymers, reinforced elastomers, and “Bucky Paper” materials
for structural composite manufacturing.
“SWeNT’s new specialty multiwall category fills the ‘space’
between SWCNT and conventional Multiwall CNT,” explains Rick Jansen, vice
president of sales and marketing for SouthWest Nano. “Traditional Multi-Wall
CNT products are typically used as a conductive additive for thermoplastic polymers,
enabling molded plastic parts to be sufficiently electrically conductive and
provide electrostatic discharge (ESD) protection. However, this electrical conductivity
benefit often results in mechanical properties being compromised compared with
the unfilled polymer. SMW can reduce or eliminate this compromise at a fraction
of the cost of Single-Wall CNT.”
CEO Dave Arthur added: “Our first SMW offering, SWeNT® SMW 100,
opens up several new market opportunities for us. Previously, SWeNT has mainly
focused on coatings applications. With SMW 100, we can now provide an affordable
alternative to Single-Wall CNT for bulk applications like polymer composites.
The improved performance of SMW 100 compared with traditional Multi-Wall CNT
is due to the structure of the tubes: fewer walls and smaller diameter than
traditional Multi-Wall CNT. This results in less “wasted” carbon
(since only the outer walls contribute to conductivity) and less breakage of
tubes during compounding (since the tubes have fewer defects and exhibit greater
flexibility).”
SWeNT® SMW 100 materials are produced in SWeNT’s new, state-of-the-art
CNT manufacturing plant in Norman, OK, using the same CoMoCAT® process platform
that has allowed SWeNT to take the lead in Single-Wall CNTs due to its quality,
consistency and scalability.
outhWest NanoTechnologies, Inc. (SWeNT) is . SWeNT, headquartered in Norman,
Oklahoma, was formed in 2001