Partner of "Inno.CNT"
As a partner of the innovation alliance “Inno.CNT,” BYK is systematically pursuing basic research in the field of carbon nanotubes (CNTs). The initiative is sponsored by the Federal Ministry of Education and Research, and its aim is to establish a global lead market for CNTs in Germany.
The initiative was launched at the start of 2009 to make deliberate use of the potential of CNTs. It consists of different projects and will be financially supported for a period of four years by the Federal Ministry of Education and Research. The focus here is on developing crossover technologies, while practical questions for industry will also be evaluated.
The involvement of BYK is concentrated within the crossover project “CarboDis” on the development of suitable wetting and dispersing additives and on methods for producing additives containing CNTs.
Two company units at BYK are involved in the innovation alliance. The R&D department is concerned with developing suitable wetting and dispersing additives; the Nanotechnology Additives Product Group, in contrast, is concentrating on developing methods for the dispersion of nanomaterials. In addition, our nanotechnology specialists are evaluating the internally produced wetting and dispersing additives in terms of their application, and are converting the methods developed into practicable production processes.
The common approach of these activities is to develop methods for working CNTs into different polymer matrices. Ultimately, a broad work and knowledge platform should arise from this line of inquiry, describing the specific product properties of all the basic polymer types – thermoplastics, duroplastics, and elastomers – in relation to all the important variables.
