HYPERION CATALYSIS OPENS PLASTICS TECHNICAL CENTER AS NEW RESOURCE FOR DEVELOPING CONDUCTIVE APPLICATIONS

CAMBRIDGE, Mass. – February 11, 2002 – Hyperion Catalysis International, the world’s only tonnage producer of carbon nanotubes, announced today that it has opened a new plastics technical center at its Cambridge headquarters. Hyperion produces multi-walled nanotubes sold under the tradename FIBRIL™. These submicroscopic hollow tubes confer electrical conductivity at lower loadings than other conductive additives when compounded with otherwise-insulating materials such as thermoplastics. The plastics technical center is one facet of an expansion at Hyperion’s Cambridge site.

With the new center, Hyperion can quickly provide development lots of masterbatches and compounds to better respond to customer requests. Additionally, the center will be used to research new polymer compounds and to qualify innovative customer applications. The center’s resources include compounding and testing equipment, and a staff of scientists and technicians with a solid background in plastics compounding and electrical / electrostatic materials.

“We are making a proactive move into market support,” said Patrick Collins, marketing director at the company. “The new facility allows us to offer our customers faster service, while at the same time providing us the technical base we need to create new nanotube-based products and processes.

Carbon nanotubes are 10-12 nm in diameter – more than 5,000-times thinner than human hair – and 10-15 microns (m) long. Due to their unusually high aspect ratio (1:1,000+), these submicroscopic tubes provide a highly effective, electrically conductive network when compounded with non-conductive materials, even at low loadings.

Typical usage levels of FIBRIL nanotubes range from 1-5% vs. 8-12% for chopped or milled carbon fiber, nickel-coated graphite, or metal fibers, and 8-20% for carbon black. Nanotubes have fewer negative effects on the physical, mechanical, and processing properties of the base polymer than other electroconductive additives. This is due to the low loadings and very-small particle sizes typical of this technology. Additionally, FIBRIL nanotubes-filled compounds can provide excellent molded-part quality.

In the automotive industry, thermoplastic compounds using FIBRIL nanotubes are capable of producing Class A body panels and trim parts. Since the resulting parts also have conductive properties, they can be electrostatically painted, eliminating primer steps and making it easier to wrap paint around corners and into deep design details. Low loading levels mean nanotubes do not compromise important mechanical properties (e.g. low-temperature ductility), so parts can be used in large exterior panels as well as trim applications. FIBRIL nanotubes are also a key additive in nylon fuel lines where they prevent dangerous static discharges while preserving the low-temperature ductility of the nylon.

In the electronics field, the smooth, highly homogeneous part surface means minimal sloughing (or rub-off) of surface particles, which can be a damaging contaminant in today’s ultra-clean, electronic production environment. Furthermore, FIBRIL nanotubes are nonreactive and chemically clean, with no sizing agent or sulfur that can damage delicate microelectronics. Hence, FIBRIL-filled compounds are used to mold silicon-wafer handling tools (e.g. tweezers, wands, and rails for front opening unified pods (FOUPs)), and material transport trays and components for computer hard drives.

Finally, because FIBRIL nanotubes are so small and strong, they offer higher regrind stability than other conductive additives, making it easy to melt reprocess runners, sprues, and parts during production, as well as recycle molded components at end-of-life.

Current markets for FIBRIL nanotubes include automotive and electronics. Other uses in batteries, fuel cells, flat-panel displays, and catalyst supports are under development.

Reader enquiries

Hyperion Catalysis International, Inc.
38 Smith Place
Cambridge, MA 02138

United States
+1 617 354 9678
response@​HyperionCatalysis.com
www.hyperioncatalysis.com

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Notes for editors

About Hyperion Catalysis International

Hyperion Catalysis International, headquartered in Cambridge, Mass., has 20 years of experience in nanotube technology. The company – which was the first to synthesize nanotubes in 1983 – is the world’s leader in tonnage production of multi-walled carbon nanotube products, which are sold under the tradename FIBRIL™. The nanotubes make normally non-conductive materials such as thermoplastics electrostatically conductive.

FIBRIL-brand based masterbatches are available for a wide range of plastic compounds, including:

 Polyetheretherketone (PEEK),

 Polyetherimide (PEI),

 Polyphenylene sulfide (PPS),

 Polycarbonate (PC),

 Thermoplastic polyesters (PET and PBT),

 Nylon (PA) 12, 6, and 6,6,

 Polypropylene (PP),

 Polystyrene (PS).

Hyperion Catalysis has sales presence in the United States (Massachusetts, Michigan, and California) as well as in Japan (Tokyo). The company’s European sales and marketing office is slated to open in the first half of 2002.

For more information on the new plastics technical center or on FIBRIL nanotubes, call customer response at +1.617.354.9678 ext 2344; or send a fax to +1.617.354.9691; or e-mail response@HyperionCatalysis.com. The company’s website can be found at www.HyperionCatalysis.com.

™ FIBRIL is a Trademark of Hyperion Catalysis International.