This approval gives the green light to Arkema Inc, French chemical company Arkema’s US subsidiary, to assist US customers currently conducting research and application tests involving CNTs with their commercial development on a larger scale.
Arkema’s Graphistrength® masterbatches are already available in Europe and Asia.
Since it first began producing CNTs in 2006, Arkema has sought to develop, under the trademark Graphistrength, a range of masterbatches designed to optimise the performance of CNTs in polymer matrices (thermoplastic, elastomer and thermoset). Graphistrength products are said to offer outstanding performance: in product manufacture, they are easy to use in traditional compounding processes, and they ensure excellent dispersion of CNTs in many polymer matrices, thereby delivering good electrical and mechanical properties.
In September 2009, Arkema announced the construction of a 400 ton/year CNT pilot production plant in France. The plant is scheduled to come on stream in early 2011.
