What are Zyvex’s
advantages in relation to CNT nanocomposites?
What solubility
advantages can Zyvex offer?
What is Zyvex’s
approach for mass production?
What markets are ideal for
your CNT process?
What types of composites
would benefit from Zyvex’s process?
What is the ZDF-S1A material?
What do you mean
by “solution”?
Do you make nanotubes?
Whose nanotubes do you use?
How do you assure the quality
of these materials?
What can I do with them?
How big is a batch of functionalized
tubes?
How stable is this material?
Do you have any restrictive
materials agreements?
Is this material hazardous?
Can I have a free sample?
What kind of quantity price
discount do you offer if I need more?
Do you sell other
nanomaterials?
I thought Zyvex was working
on atomically precise manufacturing — how is this related?
Who is Zyvex’s business
contact?
The invention of carbon nanotubes has
opened up a new area of high-strength, high-conductivity composites.
Carbon nanotubes, due to their high aspect ratio, small diameter,
low weight, high mechanical strength, high thermal and stability
in air, and high electrical and thermal conductivity, are
recognized as the ultimate carbon fibers for high performance,
multifunctional composites. However, smooth carbon nanotube
surfaces (i.e., sidewalls) are incompatible with most solvents
and polymers, resulting in poor nanotube dispersion in the
polymer matrix. Nanotube sidewalls are difficult to functionalize
without degrading a nanotube’s desirable intrinsic properties.
Unfunctionalized sidewalls produce poor adhesion and phase
separation between the nanotubes and the polymer matrix. As
a result, prior studies have failed to produce nanotube/epoxy
composites that fully realize nanotubes’ outstanding
mechanical, electrical, and thermal properties.
Zyvex recently discovered a new, non-wrapping
approach to non-covalently engineering carbon nanotube surfaces
that leads to a greater than 50-fold enhancement of solubility
compared to the polymer wrapping approach of small diameter
single wall nanotubes (SWNTs) and enables superior control
of the relative placement of functionalities on the nanotube
surfaces. This non-wrapping pi-stacking attachment to CNTs
does not degrade the nanotubes, as other methods do. In addition,
pi-stacking works with virtually any diameter nanotube and
is inherent in the backbone of the rigid conjugated polymers.
This feature allows Zyvex to select side chains to achieve
specific properties such as solubility and adhesion to different
materials.
Our goals include development of affordable,
scaleable, and superior carbon nanotube processing (CNT) technologies.
We are commercializing carbon nanotube technologies that offer
improvements in mechanical, structural, electrical, and thermal
properties of engineering plastics, ceramics, and epoxies.
Zyvex also works closely with various partners
to structure a business relationship based on the needs of
our client. Utilizing the recently launched Zyvex Partner
Program, we develop products, processes, and technologies
and bring them to market worldwide.
Zyvex’s powerful, cost-effective CNT functionalization
technology enables uniform dispersion of the nanotubes in
different solvents, polymers, and epoxy materials without
degrading CNT properties. The technology, which has demonstrated
structural, thermal, and electrical properties significantly
better than competing approaches, permits the solubility of
nanotubes in organic solvents and the uniform dispersion of
nanotubes in a polymer matrix with significantly enhanced
adhesion between nanotubes and the matrix. Based on experimental
data, it is clear that Zyvex’s CNT solubilization technology
will have significant impact on the development of novel adhesives
and composites that enable applications critical to national
defense, aerospace, electronic, bio-medical etc.
Zyvex’s innovative non-wrapping approach
to non-covalently engineer carbon nanotube surfaces leads
to a greater than 50-fold enhancement (compared to the PmPV-wrapping
approach) of solubility of small diameter SWNTs, and enables
rational engineering of functionalities on the nanotube surfaces.
Our solubilization technology has lead to excellent dispersion
of CNTs in polymer matrices, as evidenced in electrical conductivity
measurements, which yields very low percolation threshold
at about 0.045 wt % of CNT loading. This threshold value represents
the lowest reported figure for nanotube-polymer composites
to our knowledge.
Zyvex’s unique, proprietary solubilization
technology permits the full utilization of CNT’s intrinsic
superior mechanical strength and high thermal and electrical
conductivities.
Zyvex’s CNT processing technology has
been developed to be compatible with standard industry production.
Zyvex will help to incorporate its CNT processing technology
into customized processes through IP transfer or potential
joint ventures.
Zyvex’s CNT processing technology will
find application in a variety of areas, including, but not
limited to:
• Epoxy and engineering plastic composites
• Thermal management (interface materials, spacecraft
radiators, avionic enclosures and printed circuit board thermal
planes, etc.)
• Aircraft, ship, infrastructure 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
• Fuel cells
• Medical materials
• Composite fibers
• Improved flywheels for energy storage
Our process can be applied to various engineering
plastic, epoxy, and adhesive composites. We also provide contract
development services to incorporate CNTs into customized host
materials using Zyvex’s innovative CNT solubilization
technology.
ZDF-S1A is Zyvex’s first nanomaterial
product. It consists of single-walled nanotubes (SWNTs) functionalized
with our proprietary molecules (PPE-Z1) in a solvent. These
functionalized SWNTs are then carefully dried and packaged
for shipment. When you get them, simply mixing this dried
film with the proper solvent and lightly sonicating it reconstitutes
a stable solution of nanotubes.
ZDF-S1A nanotubes are suspended and dispersed
in the solvent so well that they do not settle out even over
periods of weeks. While they can be filtered out on filter
paper, thus separating them from the solvent, this is really
a function of their large size, not their solubility. With
today’s technology, a fine enough filter can separate
most solvated molecules larger than a water molecule, so the
old definition of solution as a mixture which cannot be separated
has lost much of its meaning. Please note that this is technically
a solution of functionalized nanotubes, not pure nanotubes
(which are insoluble). There is strong evidence that some
unbundling of SWNT ropes is taking place, but we cannot at
this time definitively say what percentage is exfoliated SWNTs
and what percentage is small bundles.
If you are uncomfortable with the term
“solution” for this material, feel free to call
it a suspension or dispersion.
Carbon Nanotubes Sonication with ZDF
Carbon Nanotubes Sonication with Surfactant
Zyvex does not make its own nanotubes.
We have identified a large number of vendors worldwide 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 wedded to a particular type
of nanotube or manufacturing technology, we can objectively
pick the optimal manufacturer for a particular application.
We run a number of tests on our incoming SWNTs
to characterize their properties, including visual inspection
with Scanning Electron Microscope, Raman spectroscopy, and
ThermoGravimetric Analysis. The quality of all nanotubes is
still varying with the manufacturer and batch, so it is important
to characterize each batch carefully.
We test each lot of ZDF-S1A to assure full solubility
during our initial functionalization, and reconstitute a dried
sample to assure your ability to do the same. Because the
quality of nanotubes varies somewhat from batch to batch,
we cannot guarantee the tubes themselves, only that they will
disperse as claimed when prepared in accordance with the instructions.
Our customers usually do not wish to discuss
their applications publicly. We have demonstrated in our lab
that good solutions in organic solvents lead to good dispersions
when mixed into nanotube-polymer composites. Electrical conductivity
data shows the onset of conductivity at two orders of magnitude
lower concentrations of SWNTs than other published techniques
(e.g., a percolation threshold of less than 0.05% in polystyrene).
Epoxy-nanotube composites are not only conductive, but can
be significantly stronger than pure epoxy. Nanotubes are excellent
thermal conductors, so may have applications in thermal management.
Here is a picture of 250 mg of ZDF-S1A for size
comparison.
Our minimum order size is 250 mg of ZDF-S1A.
This contains approximately 67% SWNTs by weight, with 33%
being our proprietary solubilization molecule.
The current form of ZDF-S1A is stable to temperatures
up to 130C. If exposed
to higher temperatures, the material will no longer solubilize.
This means
you can resolubilize the original film, cast a new film into
your own shape,
dry it, heat it, and have an insoluble film of SWNTs. If the
ZDF material is
used in a composite, the SWNTs will also lose adhesion to
the matrix
material above this temperature. We are also working on a
higher temperature
version for applications where 130C is a limitation.
We want you to use ZDF-S1A in your own applications and buy
more from us.
We do not restrict your uses of this material, but cannot
be responsible if you do not use it in accordance with the
Material Safety Data Sheet.
Scientists are still determining toxicology
data on nanotubes, so responsible usage of this material would
treat it as an unknown hazard, and exercise appropriate caution.
One should also be aware of safe handling precautions
for the solvents in which ZDF-S1A is dispersed.
No. The price of nanotubes and functionalized
nanotubes is very high.
We have price projections over the next several
years, and for much larger quantities, and would be happy
to discuss this information directly under a non-disclosure
agreement.
ZDF-S1A is the first product in our line of
nanomaterials. We intend to add to that product line with
a number of related products in the near future.
Atomically precise manufacturing remains our
long-term goal, but we are committed to commercializing our
nanotechnology breakthroughs along that pathway.
When preliminary tests of our nanotube solutions
showed material properties 10x to 100x better than alternative
dispersion approaches, we began to move this technology out
of the lab and into customer’s hands.
The technology underlying ZDF-S1A 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 ZDF-S1A as the first product in
our nanomaterials line.
For more information, please contact one of our sales representatives
at 972.235.7881 (ext. 271) or email sales@zyvex.com.
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