Hyperion Catalysis opens plastics technical center

Advanced Battery Technology, Apr 2002

ADVANCED BATTERY TECHNOLOGY

AROUND THE INDUSTRY

Hyperion Catalysis International, the world's only tonnage producer of carbon nanotubes, has opened a new plastics technical center at its Cambridge, Massachusetts, headquarters. The company produces multi-walled nanotubes sold under the trade name FIBRIL(TM).

With the new center, Hyperion can quickly provide development lots of master batches and compounds to better respond to customer requests. The center also will be used to research new polymer compounds and to qualify innovative customer applications. Its resources include compounding and testing equipment, and a staff of scientists and technicians skilled in plastics compounding and electrical/electrostatic materials.

Carbon nanotubes are 10-12nm in diameter-more than 5,000 times thinner than human hair - and 10-15 microns ((mu)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, such as thermoplastics, 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.

Hyperion Catalysis has sales offices in Massachusetts, Michigan, California, and Tokyo. Its European sales and. marketing office is slated to open in the first half of 2002.

For details, call (617) 354-9678 ext. 2344, fax: (617) 354-9691 or visit www.HyperionCatalysis.com.