FAQ
An introduction
to carbon nanotubes and enhanced composites made by Easton
using Zyvex technology
Single Wall Carbon Nanotubes (SWNTs) have physical
properties that greatly exceed those of commonly used materials.
With a tensile strength twenty times that of Chromoly steel with
1/6 the weight and a thermal conductivity five times that of copper,
CNTs are the obvious choice for creating a new class of composite
materials. Their inclusion in polymer matrices, as primary or secondary
filler, potentially boosts the host material’s electrical,
mechanical, or thermal values by orders of magnitude above the
performance possible with traditional fillers such as carbon black
or ultra fine metal powders. However, incorporating CNTs into other
materials has been inhibited by the chemical nature of their side-walls.
For example, problems such as phase separation, aggregation, poor
dispersion within a matrix, and poor adhesion to the host previously
inhibited their adoption as a quality additive.
Zyvex solved these problems by creating a multi-functional surface
treatment technology which exfoliates, disperses, and optimizes
the interaction between CNTs and the host matrix. For bulk material
suppliers and end-users, this provides a cost-effective solution
due to the leading to lower loadings required and easy integration
into existing processing operations.
1.
What does Zyvex do?
2. What is Nanotechnology?
3. What are Carbon Nanotubes
(CNTs)?
4. What are the physical properties
of CNTs?
5. Why was Zyvex the right
technology choice for Easton?
6. How many CNTs are in the
handlebars?
7. What performance improvements
have you seen?
8. I heard CNTs were expensive,
how were you able to put it into large scale production?
9. What is the host material
you are using?
10. Are you
using SWNT or MWNT?
11. How do CNTs
compare to Nanoclays?
12. Do you have
plans to use this technology in other products?
13. What is
the relationship between Zyvex and Easton?
14. What is
unique about Zyvex?
15. What are
Zyvex’s NanoSolve™ products?
16. What is
Zyvex’s Kentera™ technology?
17. How does
Kentera™ work?
18. What are
Zyvex’s advantages in relation to CNT nanocomposites?
19. What solubility
advantages can Zyvex offer?
20. Does Zyvex
make nanotubes? Whose do you use?
21. What is
the Zyvex CNT Supply Chain?
22. Is large
scale manufacturing and mass production a problem for Zyvex?
23. What applications
are ideal for NanoSolve™?
24. How do
we determine if the technology/capabilities will meet our needs?
25. Is NanoSolve™ stable?
26. Do you
have any restrictive materials agreements?
27. I thought
Zyvex was working on atomically precise manufacturing and NanoWorks™ tools – how
is this related?
28. Who do I
contact for more information?
1. What does Zyvex
do?
Zyvex provides nanotechnology solutions
for short-term and long-term real world applications. Zyvex’s
vision is to become the leading worldwide supplier of tools,
products, and services that enable adaptable, affordable, and
molecularly precise manufacturing. Zyvex currently offers nanotechnology
products in the areas of materials, tools, and structures for
a wide variety of markets, including Aerospace and Defense, Healthcare
and Medical, and Electronics and Semiconductors. <TOP>
2. What is Nanotechnology?
The word “nano” in nanotechnology
derives from the term “nanometer”, which is one-billionth
of a meter. Molecular nanotechnology is the manipulation of matter
at the atomic, molecular, or macro level (on the length scale
of approximately 1–100 nanometers). Zyvex delivers nanotechnology
solutions via three major market-driven platforms: materials,
tools, and structures. Materials that are characterized by structural
features less than 100 nm can be broadly classified as nanomaterials;
these serve as the basis for Zyvex’s NanoSolve™ materials
product line. The NanoWorks™ tools product line and product
portfolio includes the entire spectrum of enabling technologies
that promote visualization, manipulation, and engineering at
the nanoscale. Structures result from controlled synthesis and
subsequent assembly of material building blocks with new and
improved properties and functionalities. <TOP>
3. What are Carbon
Nanotubes (CNTs)?
Carbon nanotubes are layers of graphite
seamlessly wrapped into cylinders which are a few nanometers
in diameter, and approximately 10-20 microns long. Therefore,
the length-to-width aspect ratio is extremely high. Both the
graphitic nature of the material and their large aspect ratio
provides enhanced physical properties, which exceeds most common
filler materials. <TOP>
4. What are the
physical properties of CNTs?
SWNTs have reported tensile strengths 20
times that of Chromoly steel with 1/6 the weight. In addition,
carbon nanotubes significantly improve the electrical and thermal
conductivities of commercial polymers. The conductivities of
Zyvex’s CNT composites are at least several orders of magnitude
higher than those of insoluble CNT composites, particularly at
low nanotube loading levels. In addition, carbon nanotubes offer
the ability to enhance the mechanical and structural properties
of composites. Examples of this data can be obtained by reading
our application notes at www.zyvex.com/Products/appsnotes.html. <TOP>
5. Why was Zyvex
the right technology choice for Easton?
Zyvex was able to meet Easton’s needs for rapid integration
of CNTs into an existing composite material. Zyvex is committed
to commercializing nanotechnology today and Easton is an early
adopter of innovative new technologies. By working together,
Easton and Zyvex were able to bring real nanotechnology to actual
production. <TOP>
6. How many CNTs
are in the handlebars?
Loading levels are considered proprietary by Easton. <TOP>
7. What performance
improvements have you seen?
Easton’s published results show a 25% increase in bending
strength with good toughness. <TOP>
8. I heard CNTs
were expensive, how were you able to put it into large scale
production?
Properly treated CNTs can be cost effective for numerous applications.
Easton had a cost target associated with the integration of CNTs
into their products and Zyvex was able to meet that target. Our
customers have discovered that Zyvex’s NanoSolve™ is
cost-effective for a number of immediate applications. Excellent
dispersion requires significantly fewer nanotubes to gain increased
material performance, compared to other commercially available
nanomaterial products. <TOP>
9. What is the host
material you are using?
Zyvex functionalizes various forms of carbon nanomaterials for
a variety of host materials. Easton’s host matrix is proprietary
information. <TOP>
10.
Are you using SWNT or MWNT?
Zyvex’s chooses the best material
for each application. The material chosen for Easton’s
first application is proprietary information. <TOP>
11.
How do CNTs compare to Nanoclays?
Easton has been using nanoclays for processing
ease for over 10 years. They also discovered CNTs exceed the
performance of nanoclays to enhance the physical properties of
the matrix. <TOP>
12.
Do you have plans to use this technology in other products?
Zyvex will continue to introduce additional
NanoSolve™ products for different applications and industries. <TOP>
13.
What is the relationship between Zyvex and Easton?
Zyvex and Easton have partnered to bring
a real nanotechnology product to market, quickly delivering the
technology from an R&D phase to actual production. This is
the first commercially available carbon nanotube product in the
United States bicycle market where an average customer can go
into a store and purchase an off-the-shelf product containing
carbon nanotubes. <TOP>
14.
What is unique about Zyvex?
Zyvex actually incorporates nanomaterials,
such as carbon nanotubes, into commercial applications. CNTs
have exceptional physical properties, but incorporating them
into other materials has been inhibited by the surface chemistry
of carbon. Problems such as phase separation, aggregation, poor
dispersion within a matrix, and poor adhesion to the host must
be overcome. Zyvex solved these problems by developing a new
surface treatment technology called Kentera™ that optimizes
the interaction between CNTs and the host matrix. <TOP>
15.
What are Zyvex’s NanoSolve™ products?
Zyvex’s NanoSolve™ Materials
product line delivers nano-additives, enhanced materials, process
consulting, and finished goods to a growing list of customers,
and an expanding list of real-world applications. Zyvex additives
can deliver enhanced thermal, electrical, or mechanical properties
by selectively transferring the superior intrinsic properties
of carbon nanotubes into composite materials. Current offerings
include:
NanoSolve™ Additives
• Functionalized MWNT or SWNT in solvents
— Chloroform, Chlorobenzene, Dichloromethane, 1,2-Dichloroethane, 1,1,2,2-Tetrachloroethane,
Acetone, Dioxane, Ethyl Acetate, Methyl Ethyl Ketone, Isopropanol, Anisole,
NMP, DMF, Ethanol, THF, Toluene, Xylene, and Water
• Functionalized MWNT or SWNT in Epoxy
• Functionalized MWNT or SWNT in Polyurethane or Polyurea
NanoSolve™ Enhanced Materials
• NanoSolve™ enhanced epoxy resins
• NanoSolve™ enhanced polyurea pre-polymers
• NanoSolve™ enhanced polyurethane pre-polymers <TOP>
16.
What is Zyvex’s Kentera™ technology?
Kentera™ technology is a non-damaging
surface treatment technology that provides excellent dispersion
of CNTs in various solvents (including water) as well as enhancing
the interaction between the CNTs and the host matrix. <TOP>
17.
How does Kentera™ work?
Kentera™ is a functionalization “bridge” which
contains two major components. One component non-covalently adheres
to the nanomaterials; the other easily customizes to any application.
This technology allows Zyvex to quickly adapt to our customer’s
needs, providing early adopters with rapid time to market — and
a very compelling product. We have designed our additive for
numerous solvents and host materials.
Depiction of Zyvex’s non-covalent functionalization of a
carbon nanotube. <TOP>
18.
What are Zyvex’s advantages in relation to CNT nanocomposites?
Zyvex’s NanoSolve™ product line
offers cost-effective CNT technology, large scale delivery for
rapid time to market, resolution of CNT processing bottlenecks,
and a unique technology retaining the intrinsic properties of
the CNTs. <TOP>
19.
What solubility advantages can Zyvex offer?
Zyvex’s Kentera™ technology
allows excellent dispersion in various solvents and matrix materials.
We can solubilize carbon nanotubes with solvent or without solvent
allowing process ease and incorporation into existing product
formulations. <TOP>
20.
Does Zyvex make nanotubes? Whose do you use?
Zyvex does not manufacture nanotubes. We
have identified a significant number of worldwide vendors for
both SWNTs and MultiWall Nanotubes (MWNTs), and have supplier
relationships with many of them.
Our business is to make nanotubes easier to process and use
in products, and to help our customers pick the right nanotubes
and the right processes for their application. Since we are
not obligated to use a particular type of nanotube or manufacturing
technology, we objectively pick the optimal manufacturer for
a particular application. <TOP>
21.
What is the Zyvex CNT Supply Chain?
As part of its mission to achieve molecularly
precise manufacturing, Zyvex takes an active role in defining
and qualifying nanomaterial supply chains for its customers.
Through our Supply Chain Certification program, Zyvex ensures
that you receive the quality materials you need, on a reliable
delivery schedule that synchronizes with your own processes.
Zyvex’s comprehensive program verifies quality and batch-to-batch
consistency using SEM, TPO, TGA, and a number of standard analytical
tests. <TOP>
22.
Is large scale manufacturing and mass production a problem for
Zyvex?
Zyvex’s processing technology supports
global industrial production. We offer quality control support,
scalability to large volumes, process consulting, and finished
goods. <TOP>
23.
What applications are ideal for NanoSolve™?
Zyvex technology can be incorporated into
most polymer matrices, including epoxies, adhesives, polyurethanes,
and thermoplastics. We also offer co-development contracts to
develop customized formulations for specific matrices.
Some markets that find this technology advantageous include:
• Epoxy and engineering plastic composites
• Thermal management (interface materials, spacecraft radiators, avionic
enclosures, and printed circuit board thermal planes, etc.)
• Aircraft, ship, and automotive structures
• Improved dimensionally stable structures for spacecraft and sensors
• Reusable launch vehicle cryogenic fuel tanks and unlined pressure vessels
• Packaging of electronic, optoelectronic, and microelectromechanical
(MEMS) components and subsystems
• Medical materials
• Sporting goods
• Composite fibers <TOP>
24.
How do we determine if the technology/capabilities will meet
our needs?
Our technical sales personnel will be happy
to discuss your needs and determine which Zyvex capabilities
which are right for your application. Please contact Lance Criscuolo
at 972.235.7881 (ext. 224) or by email at lcriscuo@zyvex.com. <TOP>
25.
Is NanoSolve™ stable?
Zyvex NanoSolve™ products are stable
for many weeks to months. <TOP>
26.
Do you have any restrictive materials agreements?
We want you to freely use NanoSolve™ in
your own applications and buy more from us. Therefore, we do
not restrict your uses of this material. <TOP>
27.
I thought Zyvex was working on atomically precise manufacturing
and NanoWorks™ tools – how is this related?
Actually, our NanoWorks™ materials
support atomically precise manufacturing. We are committed to
commercializing all nanotechnology breakthroughs.
When preliminary tests of our nanotube solutions showed material
properties better than alternative dispersion approaches, we
began to move this technology out of the lab and into customer’s
hands.
The underlying technology in NanoSolve™ materials allows
us to molecularly engineer the properties of the solubilizing
agent to suspend tubes in a variety of solvents. Additionally,
the interaction of the tubes with the host material can be
designed to achieve a range of properties in the resulting
composite material system once the solvent is removed.
This “platform technology” uses existing chemistry
to tailor nanomaterials at the molecular scale to solve real-world
materials problems. Solving real-world problems with nanotechnology
is exactly why Zyvex was started, and we are pleased to offer
an innovative nanomaterials product line. <TOP>
28.
Who do I contact for more information?
For more information, please contact Lance
Criscuolo at 972.235.7881 (ext. 224) or by email at sales@zyvex.com. <TOP>
Zyvex and the Zyvex logo are registered trademarks and Kentera,
NanoSolve, and NanoWorks are trademarks of Zyvex Corporation.
© Copyright 2004. Zyvex Corporation. All Rights Reserved.
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