BÜFA Composite Systems, the European supplier of high-grade products and system solutions in composites and OCSiAl Group , the leading global manufacturer of universal additive TUBALL ™ single wall carbon nanotubes ha ve signed a Memorandum of Understanding at the Nanoaugmented Materials Industry Summit 2016. Under the terms of the agreement, OCSiAl is to supply BÜFA with TUBALL ™ nanotubes. BÜFA in turn will utilize nanotubes and OCSiAl’s unique technologies for their introduction into materials to manufacture and market TUBALL ™ -based modifiers under its own brand.
In addition, OCSiAl is to grant BÜFA a license to manufacture its cutting-edge super concentrate TUBALL ™ MATRIX – the first ever cost-effective nanotubes introduction technology capable of transcending the limits of nanotubes concentration in a range of materials. Ultra-low loadings of TUBALL ™ MATRIX are sufficient to create uniform 3D networks in materials’ system. A strong conductive network not only guarantees uniform conductivity, but also increases materials’ important mechanical properties such as strength, fracture and abrasion resistance.
This latest development comes on the back of a successful two-year long working relationship. At present, BÜFA is manufacturing and marketing TUBALL ™- based masterbatches based on polyester and epoxy resins for applications in coatings and composite materials. Lothar Kempf, BÜFA Managing Director, said: “ BÜFA has developed resin formulations for gelcoats and for GRP-composites based on OCSiAl nanotubes. A concentration of just 0.05% of TUBALL™ has allowed us not only to adjust the surface resistivity of our gelcoat to 10 4 Ω/sq, but also to preserve the mechanical properties and maintain the existing formulation and processing . Now we are working on enhancing the mechanical properties of composites materials with TUBALL ™ ." These nanotubes-modified gelcoats are for instance currently applied as a coating for electrical switch cabinet in areas exposed to explosion hazards.
BÜFA is a key OCSiAl partner in the field of resins and composites materials. OCSiAl is committed to further collaboration and simplifying its partner’s activities by supporting EU regulation authorities’ initiatives on providing the market with an in-depth understanding of nanotubes composition, their safety and risk management. OCSiAl recently completed the
EU
Registration, Evaluation, Authorisation and Restriction of Chemicals (REACH)
for TUBALL™. “This registration proves that
TUBALL™ single wall carbon nanotubes fully comply with EU regulations, and are
now available at industrial volumes,” said Bernd Runge, OCSiAl Europe Vice
President.
About BÜFA
BÜFA Composite Systems GmbH & Co. KG, is a subsidiary of the Oldenburg BÜFA Group and was founded in 1964. Since 1996 its headquarters have been in Rastede, Germany. It is specialized in gelcoats, bonding pastes, fire retardant systems, specialities, agents, and has its own machine technology. BÜFA Composite Systems offers innovative, customized products and system solutions as well as an outstanding technical service. It continuously develops new sophisticated materials. BÜFA products are utilized in a number of areas including the railway and commercial vehicles industries, wind energy, boatbuilding, aviation, and the building industry.
About OCSiAl
OCSiAl was the first company to develop breakthrough technology for the production of single wall carbon nanotubes, enabling large-scale commercial use for the first time. In 2014 it entered the nanomaterials market with its universal additive TUBALL™, which contains 75% of single-wall carbon nanotubes. OCSiAl develops technologies based on nanotubes for a range of applications including lithium-ion batteries, elastomers, plastics, transparent conductive films, composite materials and others. In 2016 it launched a unique technology – the super concentrate TUBALL™ MATRIX. OCSiAl has regional offices in the USA, Luxembourg, Russia, Korea, China, Hong Kong and India. Details about the company are available on the OCSiAl homepage: www.ocsial.com
About Nanoaugmented Materials Industry Summit
Nanoaugmented Materials Industry Summit, a three-day event, that brings together a large number of industry experts that implement the most cutting-edge nanotechnologies from all over the world, took place on 14-16 November, in Novosibirsk, Russia. At the event, the world’s markets leading players report on new single wall carbon nanotubes-based technologies, exchange nanoindustry up-to-date insights, discuss breakthrough inventions, and network with the other innovative companies that implement nanotechnologies in their production processes. This year, the Summit attracted more than 180 participants from 27 countries, including industry giants LANXESS Rhein Chemie Additives, PolyStick, BÜFA, Union Chemical, BAK Battery, Mahindra and more.