Plastics News Europe - October 2019 - 15

Grace Continental uses a nanotube-formulated concentrate to produce its anti-static PSA films for displays
in mobile and electronics applications.
A 0.6% loading of nanotube concentrate provides the films with a resistivity of 10^6-10^8 Ω/sq. Along with
stable conductivity characteristics, the
graphene nanotubes enable good wetout performance and, thanks to their
ultra-low effective concentrations,
make it possible to achieve transparent
or coloured PSA films. One of the key
advantages for Grace Continental is
the significant cost-efficiency achieved
with nanotubes through halving the
number of layers: from two conductive
polymer-based layers to only one
graphene nanotube-based PSA layer.
Another distinctive example of a
market-oriented successful application is the use of graphene nanotubes to produce anti-static yet colourful silicones. The combination of
permanent conductivity and the flexibility of being able to make end products in a wide range of colours is
opening the door for innovative solutions in applications such as smart
electronics, consumer goods, automotive parts and many others.
By introducing just 1% of a concentrate based on graphene nanotubes

Volume resistivity, Ω.cm

additives & masterbatch

1011
1010
109
108
107
106
105
104
103
102
10
1

0.5

1

1.5

2

2.5

3
3.5
4
4.5
5
5.5
Nanotube-based concentrate wt.%

6.5

7

7.5

8

Figure 4. Volume resistivity of HCR silicone depending on the loading of graphene nanotubes

and siloxanes, a surface resistivity level
of 5×10^7 Ω/sq at a material thickness
of 0.2 cm (volume resistivity of 10^7
Ω∙cm), and with bright colours and stable conductivity, is achievable.
Switching from carbon black to
graphene nanotubes as a conductive
additive for HCR allows manufacturers
to significantly reduce the effective
concentration. Volume resistivity in the
range of 10^11 down to 10 Ω∙cm can
be achieved with the addition of just
0.6-6% of nanotube-based concentrate (Figure 4). To achieve these resistivity levels when using conductive

carbon black as an additive, between
3% and 40% would usually be required, inevitably leading to degradation of mechanical characteristics, inconsistency of conductive properties
and the migration of carbon to the
surface during the product's life.
Article contributed by:
Ruslan Karpunin, Researcher at OCSiAl
Dr Evgeniy Ilin, Senior Researcher and Head of Department of
Polymer Materials at OCSiAl
Ekaterina Gorbunova, Vice President OCSiAl for Elastomers
Prof. Mikhail Predtechenskiy, Head of R&D at OCSiAl
For more info:
Jean-Nicolas Helt, OCSiAl Europe Development and Support Leader,
Elastomers europe@ocsial.com

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Plastics News Europe - October 2019

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