|
HOUSTON--(BUSINESS
WIRE)--Oct. 5, 2004--Carbon Nanotechnologies:
--
Provides coverage for composites, fibers and other
materials containing derivitized single-wall carbon
nanotubes which are substantially aligned
--
Complements recently issued or allowed patent coverage
relative to derivatization and purification of carbon
nanotubes
Carbon
Nanotechnologies, Inc (CNI) have announced the issue
of U.S. Patent 6,790,425 B1 for both pure and composite
materials containing derivitized single-wall carbon
nanotubes in substantial alignment with one another.
This patent paves the way for commercial products
with superior performance characteristics, such as
plastics with electrical conductivity, improved fibers
for bullet-proof vests, plastic parts that are stronger
and longer lasting, and flat panel TVs and displays
which are brighter, longer lasting, and consume less
energy. This technology is part of the intellectual
property developed by Nobel-Prize winning scientist
Dr. Richard Smalley and licensed exclusively to CNI
by Rice University in 2001.
"These
compositions, along with CNI's patent coverage related
to purifying and derivitizing single-wall carbon nanotubes,
provide CNI with a fundamental position in composites,
fibers and other commercially useful materials with
a wide variety of uses," said Dr. Smalley, Chairman
of CNI and University Professor at Rice University.
"Single-wall
and other small diameter carbon nanotubes offer great
potential in applications ranging from electrically-conductive
plastics to fuel cells and flat panel displays. CNI's
industry-leading intellectual property portfolio,
including this latest patent, broadly covers nanotube
production, enabling technology and end-use applications,
and will likely underpin almost all commercial products
benefiting from these remarkable new materials. CNI
is currently scaling up production of multiple products
designed to meet the requirements of specific end
uses," said Bob Gower, President and CEO of CNI.
Small-diameter
carbon nanotubes are an example of a nanotechnology
that is now reaching the commercial arena. These nanostructures
comprise large molecules of carbon, cylindrical in
form, and are about 1-3 nanometers (billionths of
a meter) in diameter and hundreds to thousands of
nanometers long. As individual molecules, single-wall
carbon nanotubes have a tensile strength that is 100
times that of high-strength steel and about one-sixth
the density of steel. They conduct electricity and
heat extremely well, and many believe that they represent
the next revolution in polymer technology.
Alignment
is required in many nanotube composite applications
such as a new breed of super-strong composite fibers
that are a blend of single-wall carbon nanotubes and
other high-strength polymer materials. Alignment is
also a key requirement for creating electrically conductive
materials at very low, and therefore highly economic,
loadings of nanotubes. Given the natural self assembly
of small diameter nanotubes into "ropes"
of aligned tubes and the derivatization inherent in
most purification processes this patent supports a
broad range of materials that can bring the revolutionary
properties of nanotubes into commercial products.
The
hundreds of end-use products under development include
electrically-conductive plastic composites for use
in semiconductor equipment and automotive parts; tough,
lightweight, and high strength composites for satellite
parts and sporting goods; large, reasonably-priced
flat-panel TV screens; fuel cell components including
electrodes; and sensors, actuators, and other performance
critical components.
CNI
has more 100 patents and patent applications with
a total of about 5000 claims in various stages of
prosecution. Twenty-six patents with a total of about
900 claims have been issued or allowed. The portfolio
of 100 patents and applications includes about 650
composition of matter claims, more than 40 of which
have been issued or allowed thus far.
CNI
has several pilot plants to produce single-wall and
other small-diameter carbon nanotubes in operation
at its location in west Houston.
The
company currently has more than 450 customers worldwide
and has an exclusive relationship with Sumitomo Corporation
for marketing and distribution of CNI products in
Japan.
Contacts
CNI
David Karohl, 281-492-5730
karohl@cnanotech.com
or
Sumitomo
Nobuo Aoki, +81 (3) 51664535
nobuo.aoki@em.sumitomocorp.co.jp
|
