Nanotube
Technology
Properties
of FIBRIL Nanotubes
Commercially
manufactured FIBRIL nanotubes are produced from high purity, low molecular
weight hydrocarbons in a proprietary, continuous, gas phase, catalyzed
reaction. They are parallel, multi-walled carbon nanotubes. The outside
diameter of the tube is approximately 10 nanometers and the length is
over 10 microns. As produced, FIBRIL nanotubes are intertwined together
in agglomerates. However, Hyperion has developed proprietary techniques
to disperse nanotubes.
Advantages
of FIBRIL Nanotubes as a Conductive Additive
The
unique morphology of FIBRIL nanotubes allows them to be used commercially
to make high performance conductive plastics. Nanotubes have a very
high aspect ratio (length divided by diameter) of 1000. This means that
a very low loading is needed to form a percolating (conductive) mixture
with a polymer compared to additives with lower aspect ratios.
The
advantages of a low loading of a very small conductive additive will
be discussed in the applications sections.
Related
Article
Designing
for ESD Protection Using FIBRIL Nanotubes (95KB PDF)
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