Press Release
First commercial application of Baytubes® carbon nanotubes in Japan
A heater made from woven fabrics
New dispersion technology enables the full utilization of the electrical and thermal conductivity of carbon nanotubes
Thanks to the combination of two
new dispersion technologies
aqueous suspensions of
Baytubes® carbon nanotubes
(CNTs) can be produced which
contain single tubes and thus show
a high electrical and thermal
conductivity. Multifilament yarns
coated with such CNT dispersions
can be woven to efficient fabric
heaters. Such heaters already
performed well in preventing the
water in water storage tanks of
JR Hokkaido’s “Ryuhyo-Norokko”
train from freezing.
The fabric heater is lightweight and thin, compact and shows a long-lasting bending resistance. It can be used for instance for car seats, household electrical appliances, for heating of clothes and as an anti-freezing material. Tests revealed that it may for example be installed in the water storage tank of JR Hokkaido’s “Ryuhyo-Norokko” train. Inside this train the temperature drops to around -20 °C in wintertime, because so far no heating devices other than potbelly stoves are available. According to JR Hokkaido railway company the fabric heater performed well in preventing the water from freezing. A seat heating application of the fabric heater is still on trial on another JR Hokkaido train line. It is anticipated that the aqueous dispersions might as well be suitable for the compounding of various kinds of materials.
In the course of their production CNTs usually form large and stable agglomerates where the tubes are tightly entangled to each other. Dispersing such agglomerates into individual tubes which show a maximum of electrical and thermal conductivity has so far been a challenge. Thanks to a new dispersion technology using a zwitterionic surfactant developed and patented by Prof. Dr. Bunshi Fugetsu from Hokkaido University it is now possible to produce stable aqueous suspensions containing CNTs at a mono-dispersed (tubular) level in industrial quantities. To achieve this, a unique method for non-destructive dispersion of CNT agglomerates into individual tubes developed by the Inoac Technical Center Co., Ltd. is applied as well. The products show a stable and homogeneous conductivity and a durability that easily covers the service life that is required for industrial products. Through a combination of both technologies it is possible to disentangle the agglomerates of Baytubes® in an efficient and stable way.
About Bayer MaterialScience:
With 2008 sales of EUR 9.7 billion, Bayer MaterialScience is among the world’s largest polymer companies. Business activities are focused on the manufacture of high-tech polymer materials and the development of innovative solutions for products used in many areas of daily life. The main segments served are the automotive, electrical and electronics, construction and sports and leisure industries. Bayer MaterialScience has 30 production sites around the globe and employed approximately 15,100 people at the end of 2008. Bayer MaterialScience is a Bayer Group company.
Find more information at www.bayermaterialscience.com.
