 AT A GLANCE
This expertise, resulting from CNRS-CNRC collaboration (French and Canadian national scientific research centers) initiatives led to the development of our patented technology “NANO IN”, which enables the integration of nanoparticles into high performance, eco-friendly and multifunctional composite materials. The NANO IN integrated nanoparticles create/improve conductivity, strength, flexibility, toughness, chemical resistance, compression & fatigue. - « NANO IN » enables the unique intrinsic properties to be transferred into composite materials thus opening up various perspectives for creating high performance & multifunctional materials, without any drawback of existing properties. - « NANO IN » reduces the level of chemicals toxicity and maintains /enhances the level of performance of materials in order to reduce the environmental impact of chemistry. - « NANO IN » enhances the properties of bio/ eco resins with fewer chemicals to make them “similar in properties” to conventional resins. - « NANO IN » maintains its high level of expertise in nanoparticles chemistry and materials science from its former activity as a nanoparticles manufacturer.
Nano In® 1st generation CNTs incoroporation using physical functionalization, without covalent bonds. The technology developed at Nanoledge and used in its current resin systems / resin films is named Nano In 1st generation. This technology allows homogeneous dispersion of virtually all types of CNTs into various host polymers. As the mechanism involves only physical interactions (van der Waals, -stacking), the intrinsic properties of CNTs remain unchanged. Different additives can be combined to “bridge” CNTs to a wide range of host matrices. In addition, Nano In 1 is a very economic solution, since all additives are commercially available and it does not require any specific security measures related to the production process. NANOLEDGE uses its patented NANO IN technology to produce high-performance composites. Carbon nanotubes (CNTs) have unique mechanical and electric properties but their incorporation into polymer materials is extremely challenging. This is due to a lack of wetting of the CNT sidewalls by the host matrix. Like adhesives, NANO IN additives create physical intermolecular interactions between the CNTs and the host polymer (dipole-dipole interactions and/or charge transfer). Thus, NANO IN additives provide a homogeneous dispersion of carbon nanotubes and their compatibility with the host polymer. Two different groups of molecules are necessary to provide a good dispersion of the CNTs in the matrix: A first NANO IN additive that is compatible with the CNTs and a second one which is selected in function of the chemical nature of the polymeric matrix. The first molecule is linked to the CNTs via both - interactions (conjugated double bonds) and charge-transfer interactions. Such chemical substances often absorb visible light and are coloured (chromophores). Therefore they are appreciated as pigments or dyes. NANOLEDGE has identified the most efficient of those molecules. For example, using cupper phthalocyanine sulfonate aminated fatty acid salt, good results in terms of homogeneity of the dispersion and mechanical properties of the resulting material have been obtained. The technology is protected by one European patent application : WO2004/060988 A3. The patent claims the CNTs dispersion method, the physically functionalized CNTs and resulting materials from the incorporation of such nanotubes. However, most of the process elements cannot be protected by patents, thus Nanoledge relies on trade secrets and keeps strategic information confidential.
Nano In® 2nd generation Despite the advantages and the proven performance of Nano In 1 in application areas where damage tolerance and electrical conductivity is needed, there are further material issues that cannot be addressed using the first generation technology. CNTs ( carbon nanotubes ) have the highest Young’s modulus and tensile strength of all so far known materials. Therefore, they have tremendous potential as reinforcement objects. However, CNTs do largely underperform when subjected to mechanical stress. This is mainly due to a lack of strong bonds between CNTs and the host matrix. Further, “physical” dispersion technologies involve formation of a thin isolating layer of additives on the CNT outer surface. As a result, electrical conductivity of such composites is low in comparison to what may theoretically be achieved when using CNTs as conducting filler. The second generation of dispersion technologies will address these challenges. Nano In 2 is based on creation of covalent bonds between the CNTs and the host polymer. Two different routes have been chosen in order to minimize risks: i) development of a new method (MONALISA 1 development project), ii) acquisition of existing intellectual property stemming from external sources (MONALISA 2 development project). The aim of the MONALISA (MOdification of carbon NAnotubes by covalent LInkage for Structural material Advancement) project is to develop a strategy that enables covalent bonds (i.e. chemical linking) between the CNTs and a polymeric matrix. As far as covalent bonds are much stronger than physical interactions, a much better reinforcement is expected. First, chemical groups will be grafted onto the CNT surface in order to activate it (chemical functionalization). The second step is the addition of a component that will react on the one hand with the functions grafted on the CNTs and on the other hand with the selected polymeric matrix. These covalent binding molecules will allow a better load transfer from the matrix to the CNTs under mechanical stress. The resulting material will exhibit highly enhanced mechanical performances in comparison with common composites. A patent application dealing with the results of the MONALISA 1 project was filed in November, 2007. Further optimization and scale-up of the method is actually ongoing process. The MONALISA 2 project is actually on the technical due diligence phase.
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About Carbon nanotubes
Carbon nanotubes (CNTs) are unique due to their structure, shape, and remarkable physical properties. Compared to stainless steel, they are 6 times lighter and 30 times stronger (~30 GPa vs 0.55 GPa), their thermal conductivity is equivalent to that of a diamond (~2000 W/m/K) and their electrical conductivity to that of copper : Carbon nanotubes provide a truly innovative breakthrough in new generation composite materials. White paper about Carbon Nanotubes : description & properties
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