Graphene nanotubes are no longer merely a curiosity – they are becoming a mainstream conductive additive. This technology is helping to create new business opportunities in various industries, including the PVC plastisol market. Successful market products with graphene nanotubes include ventilation ducting and fibreglass mesh for mining applications, anti-static textiles and treadmill belts.
With their unique properties, graphene nanotubes push PVC plastisol performance higher, to fully satisfy market demand for 105 – 109 Ω/sq resistivity, to preserve a permanent and stable form even after harsh working conditions, to maintain abrasion resistance, and to demonstrate flexibility in the colouring of final products. This all is possible with just 0.25–2 wt.% of graphene nanotube concentrate, recently developed by OCSiAl.
New technology is able to eliminate the common friction points in the usage of conventional anti-static additives, such as carbon black or ammonium compounds. Application of carbon black usually affects PVC plastisol’s mechanical performance very negatively, and turns final products black, whereas ammonium compounds can become unstable over time and provide only humidity-dependent resistivity. On the top of that, processing itself is complex – carbon black influences the rheology of material and facilitates dust formation on the surface. Graphene nanotubes, which can solve all these challenges, bring vast improvements to the PVC plastisol industry.
