Jun 18 2008
Nano-Proprietary, Inc. announced that its subsidiary Applied Nanotech, Inc. ("ANI") has achieved substantial improvements in the epoxy-based materials used in a variety of industries. ANI has been performing research and development on these materials for over two years in conjunction with a project for a sporting goods manufacturer (see press releases dated September 8, 2005 and December 18, 2006).
In results independently verified by Texas State University at San Marcos, ANI has achieved an improvement of over 40% in flexural strength and over 30% in compression strength for epoxy/carbon nanotube composites. These improvements were obtained through the chemical and mechanical modification and functionalization of carbon nanotubes in order for them to be accepted and integrated properly into the epoxy matrix.
Technological advances using nanocomposites are being introduced by many industries such as sporting goods manufacturers, aerospace, and construction industries. Many manufacturers, for example, have begun adding fullerenes and carbon nanotubes to make their epoxy materials stiffer, lighter, and stronger. These epoxy materials are frequently utilized in the industry in the form of Fiber Reinforced Plastics (FRP). The properties of these new epoxy/carbon nanotube composites are generally not easily transferred to the FRP, but by using its new composite, ANI achieved a promising 23% improvement in the flexural strength of the final FRP and similar improvements are expected in the compression strength of the final FRP.
"We are pleased that we could extend the great improvements in our epoxy nanocomposites to FRPs with respect to flexural strength. Our potential customers require the same type of improvements in compression strength. We believe that we will soon be able to extend our gains in compression strength from the nanocomposite to the FRP," said Dr. Zvi Yaniv, Chief Executive Officer of Applied Nanotech, Inc.