OCSiAl's TUBALL Single-Wall Carbon Nanotubes

SUCCESS STORIES - I

TUBALL Single-Walled Carbon Nanotubes (SWCNT), which are rapidly gaining widespread use, enable the creation of entirely new patentable areas in every sector, and have the potential to revolutionize design and application methods. The number and diversity of success stories captured globally in the Paints and Coatings sector with TUBALL are harbingers of many other breakthrough developments.Although it has long been known that single-walled carbon nanotubes, which could previously only be synthesized at laboratory scale, can enhance electrical conductivity, improve static and dynamic mechanical properties, and enable production in light colors at very low usage rates, the absence of commercially viable technology and the lack of effective methods for homogeneous dispersion of nanotubes severely limited their industrial applications.

Advantages

In 2013, OCSiAl commissioned the world's only industrial facility for synthesizing single-walled carbon nanotubes and now markets the TUBALL product, which contains more than 99% SWCNT. To facilitate the effective incorporation of TUBALL into materials, OCSiAl has also developed easy-to-use concentrates and suspensions compatible with industry-standard formulations. Unlike traditional additives such as carbon fibers and most carbon black grades, TUBALL is added at only 0.01–0.1% by weight while delivering significant improvements in various material properties. TUBALL nanotubes, with a diameter of 1.2–2 nm and length exceeding 5 μm, when properly dispersed, form a three-dimensional electrically conductive network structure that has minimal impact on the original color and other important properties of the reinforced material.

Key characteristics of TUBALL Single-Walled Carbon Nanotubes:

•One of the best electrical conductors in the world and 5 times lighter than copper. •100 times stronger than steel. •Thermal Resistance: Up to 2,800°C under vacuum. •Highest aspect ratio (3,000 and above). TUBALL incorporation at 0.1–1.0% levels enables achievement of homogeneous sheet resistance at 10² Ω/sq levels, which technically means "conductive," and permits optimization of TUBALL loading rates to achieve electrical properties such as "moisture and time-independent" continuous antistatic, electrostatic discharge, and electromagnetic field shielding. When incorporated in very small quantities into all types of paints, coatings, sealants and adhesives, this additive delivers substantial improvements in desired electrical conductivity as well as mechanical strength and surface quality without sacrificing color. It also reduces weight and lowers processing and component costs.

SUCCESS STORY - I

Antistatic Epoxy Floor Coating

Product

Self-dissipating antistatic epoxy floor coating designed to protect equipment sensitive to electrostatic discharge.

Properties

•Static Dissipative (10⁹–10⁷ Ω∙cm) and Conductive (10⁶–10⁵ Ω∙cm) Volume Resistivity values, •Permanent and stable resistivity levels, •Wide color range,

TUBALL-Containing Formulation

0.05–0.15% TUBALL Matrix 301 (10% concentrate of TUBALL single-walled carbon nanotubes) replacing 3–6% carbon fiber used as conductive additive

Advantages

•Homogeneous, permanent and stable resistivity values in static dissipative and conductive floors, •Electrical conductivity independent of moisture and time, •Wide color palette including light colors

SUCCESS STORY - 2

Storage Tank Interior and Exterior Coating

Product

Antistatic interior and exterior coating materials for storage tanks.

Properties

•Volume resistivity at 10⁹–10⁵ Ω•cm level, •Permanent and stable electrical conductivity,

TUBALL-Containing Formulation

0.3% TUBALL Matrix 201 (10% concentrate of TUBALL single-walled carbon nanotubes) replacing 20–30% conductive mica used in epoxy systems

Advantages

•"Stable volume resistivity" at 10⁷–10⁶ Ω•cm level, •Ease of processing, •Low cost,

SUCCESS STORY - 3

Conductive Polyester Gelcoat

Product

Polyester gelcoat.

Properties

•"Surface resistivity" at 10⁵–10⁴ Ω/sq level •Permanent and stable electrical conductivity •Wide color palette including light colors

TUBALL-Containing Formulation

0.5% TUBALL Matrix 204 (10% concentrate of TUBALL single-walled carbon nanotubes) replacing 5–8% carbon black used as conductive additive

Advantages

•Homogeneous, permanent and stable conductivity. •Moisture and time-independent resistivity •Wide color palette including light colors. •"Clean production process" through elimination of dusting from carbon black. •Application capability using spray technique. Resins and composite materials, paints and coatings, adhesives, elastomeric materials and energy storage sectors, as well as growing success stories worldwide including cement, glass, ceramics and metals, are opening doors for Turkish industrialists to innovate with this material, reach patentable areas, develop high-value-added products, and most importantly, differentiate themselves from competitors. Anticipating that this disruptive technology will impact 70% of industry, OCSiAl's initial production capacity of 1 ton/year in 2013 has increased to 60 ton/year as of the first quarter of 2018 through planned investments. With increasing approvals and expanding application areas, the capacity target for 2020 is projected at 310 ton/year through factory investment in Luxembourg. Çağatay Özdemir Executive Board Member Engineering Plastics & Specialty Chemicals Business Group Director Chemical Engineer Hayim Pinhas A.Ş.