New Graphene Nanotube Solutions

OCSiAl introduces water-based dispersions with minimal solid content as innovative graphene nanotube solutions for films, coatings, and packaging. OCSiAl has released a new line of graphene nanotube dispersions designed for thin, transparent, or colored conductive films and packaging. The new products suit customers' needs for low-solids formulations and high-quality fine nanomaterial dispersions. Anti-static binders, ultra-thin coatings, such as UV coatings and coatings on PET, and ultra-thin coatings with no changes in processing and retained rheological properties are among the applications.

Thin Coatings

The expansion of the graphene nanotube-based dispersion product line was specifically developed to target new markets for nanotube use. "We've noticed that the packaging and film industries prefer to use dispersions with 0.2–0.4% content of graphene nanotubes," said Ekaterina Gorbunova, Development and Support Leader for Elastomers, Vice President, OCSiAl Group. "The recently developed products have an extremely fine quality of nanotube dispersion and are easier to handle in specific applications, especially with low solid content. It allows manufacturers to produce thin coatings that are stable over time with minimal impact on the color or transparency of the final products". Nanotube water-based dispersions stabilized by anionic surfactants are now part of the expanded product line. A BA dispersion is currently being developed. The dispersions will be employed in ultra-thin coatings where processing and rheological qualities must be preserved, as well as applications involving polymer-based systems such as acrylic, nitrile, PU, and others—such as anti-static UV coatings and coatings on PET, binders, and primers. The company plans to scale-up production of these new dispersions to optimize logistical costs and guarantee a stable local supply chain. New graphene nanotube dispersion production will be established in regions with the highest market demand, including Asia, Europe, and the US. Previously, the most widespread graphene nanotube dispersions were TUBALLTM BATT and TUBALLTM LATEX for battery and latex applications with OEMs based in China and South East Asia. For various polymer applications, the company has a wide range of graphene nanotube concentrates based on various carriers with high nanotube content up to 25% of the total weight.