Carbon nanotubes have exotic physical and chemical properties. Because of their unique metal or semiconductor conductivity, high mechanical strength, hydrogen storage capacity, adsorption capacity and strong microwave absorption capacity, they were discovered in the early 1990s. The physical, chemical, and material sciences as well as the high-tech industrial sector have attached great importance. All countries in the world have invested a great deal of research and development in preparation and application, and they are expected to occupy the commanding heights in this field. In recent days, many chemical companies have been increasingly optimistic about the application prospects of carbon nanotubes regardless of their size, and have expanded their carbon nanotube production lines.
Various companies competing to invest in Bayer MaterialScience in September 2007 built a new carbon nanotube production line in the town of Laufenburg on the Swiss-German border, thus increasing the production of carbon nanotubes to 60 tons per year. Martin Schmidt, head of the company's global business of carbon nanotubes, said: “We are very confident about the application of carbon nanotubes, and we are convinced that the carbon nanotube market is an area that can fully reflect the spirit of innovation and has great growth opportunities. After the new production line has been operating for a period of time, we will build another production capacity of carbon nanotubes. By the end of 2009, the company's total carbon nanotube production capacity will be expanded to 200 tons per year." He also disclosed that Bayer The material technology company also has a larger carbon nanotube production plan. If the market goes smoothly, the company will build a new carbon nanotube production line with a capacity of 3,000 tons per year.
Other chemical companies are also actively involved in this area. For example, French chemical company Arkema built a carbon nanotube experimental device with a capacity of 10 tons/year in the southwestern part of France in January 2006. In addition to large chemical companies involved in this industry, some small companies also occupy a place in this field. For example, the British company Thomas Swan is well-known in the carbon nanotube manufacturing industry; another small company is Belgium's Nanocyl, which recently built a carbon nanotube production line with a capacity of 40 tons per year.
Unique structure and wide application prospects Carbon nanotubes attract attention because of their inherent characteristics: light weight, high strength, excellent thermal and electrical conductivity. Due to its unique electronic structure and physical and chemical properties, the application of carbon nanotubes in various fields has attracted widespread attention in the industry.
In the field of materials science, since the length of carbon nanotubes is several thousand times its diameter, it is called "super fibers." It is 100 times stronger than steel, but its density is only one-sixth that of steel. Using carbon nanotubes can make high-strength carbon fiber materials. The composite materials made from them not only have excellent mechanical properties, but also have anti-fatigue, stable material dimensions, and good sliding performance, and are expected to be used in large quantities in civil engineering, construction, and marine engineering.
Because carbon nanotube walls can be "dissolved" by certain chemical reactions, they can be used to make molds. As long as the carbon nanotubes are filled with metal and then the carbon layer is etched away, a nanoscale wire with very good conductivity can be obtained. In addition, the use of carbon nanotubes as positive and negative electrodes of lithium ion batteries can extend battery life and improve battery charge and discharge performance.
Carbon nanotubes are also considered to be a good material for manufacturing a new generation of flat display screens. The use of highly oriented single-walled carbon nanotubes as electron-transmitting materials not only makes the screen image clearer, but also shortens the distance between the electrons and the screen, thereby making a thinner television.
In energy science, carbon nanotubes also have a wide range of applications. Carbon nanotubes can store a large amount of hydrogen at low pressure. The fuel produced by this method not only has high safety performance, but also is a kind of clean energy. It will have broad prospects for development in the automotive industry. Carbon nanotubes can also be used in many high-tech fields. If it is used as a reinforcing agent and a conductive agent, an automobile protective member with excellent performance can be manufactured; using it as a catalyst carrier can significantly increase the activity and selectivity of the catalyst; and the strong microwave absorption property of the carbon nanotubes can make it be used as an absorbent. Invisible materials, electromagnetic shielding materials, or dark room absorbing materials.
Seizing the opportunity costs is the key There are generally three methods for preparing carbon nanotubes: arc discharge, laser ablation, and catalytic chemical vapor deposition (CVD). In the products produced by the arc discharge method and laser ablation method, carbon nanotubes coexist with other forms of carbon products, and separation and purification are difficult, the yield is low, and it is difficult to scale. The CVD method has the advantages of simple process, low cost, easy control of the size of the nanotubes, large length, high yield, etc., and has become the focus of current research efforts by various companies. In recent years, with the improvement of the technological level and the expansion of production scale, the production cost of CVD CNTs has been greatly reduced, and the selling price on the international market has also dropped from about US$200/g in 1999 to the current US$50/ Grams below.
In recent years, the global carbon nanotube market has been growing at a rate of 40%, but its future market is still uncertain. Schmidt said that if the cost and the selling price of carbon nanotubes can be continuously reduced in the next few years, the application area of ​​the product will become wider and wider. If the cost of carbon nanotubes cannot be reduced, it will inevitably affect its further development and application. Therefore, regardless of the size of the company, as long as it can develop a lower-cost carbon nanotube manufacturing technology, it can seize the market opportunities, occupy a greater share in this market.
Various companies competing to invest in Bayer MaterialScience in September 2007 built a new carbon nanotube production line in the town of Laufenburg on the Swiss-German border, thus increasing the production of carbon nanotubes to 60 tons per year. Martin Schmidt, head of the company's global business of carbon nanotubes, said: “We are very confident about the application of carbon nanotubes, and we are convinced that the carbon nanotube market is an area that can fully reflect the spirit of innovation and has great growth opportunities. After the new production line has been operating for a period of time, we will build another production capacity of carbon nanotubes. By the end of 2009, the company's total carbon nanotube production capacity will be expanded to 200 tons per year." He also disclosed that Bayer The material technology company also has a larger carbon nanotube production plan. If the market goes smoothly, the company will build a new carbon nanotube production line with a capacity of 3,000 tons per year.
Other chemical companies are also actively involved in this area. For example, French chemical company Arkema built a carbon nanotube experimental device with a capacity of 10 tons/year in the southwestern part of France in January 2006. In addition to large chemical companies involved in this industry, some small companies also occupy a place in this field. For example, the British company Thomas Swan is well-known in the carbon nanotube manufacturing industry; another small company is Belgium's Nanocyl, which recently built a carbon nanotube production line with a capacity of 40 tons per year.
Unique structure and wide application prospects Carbon nanotubes attract attention because of their inherent characteristics: light weight, high strength, excellent thermal and electrical conductivity. Due to its unique electronic structure and physical and chemical properties, the application of carbon nanotubes in various fields has attracted widespread attention in the industry.
In the field of materials science, since the length of carbon nanotubes is several thousand times its diameter, it is called "super fibers." It is 100 times stronger than steel, but its density is only one-sixth that of steel. Using carbon nanotubes can make high-strength carbon fiber materials. The composite materials made from them not only have excellent mechanical properties, but also have anti-fatigue, stable material dimensions, and good sliding performance, and are expected to be used in large quantities in civil engineering, construction, and marine engineering.
Because carbon nanotube walls can be "dissolved" by certain chemical reactions, they can be used to make molds. As long as the carbon nanotubes are filled with metal and then the carbon layer is etched away, a nanoscale wire with very good conductivity can be obtained. In addition, the use of carbon nanotubes as positive and negative electrodes of lithium ion batteries can extend battery life and improve battery charge and discharge performance.
Carbon nanotubes are also considered to be a good material for manufacturing a new generation of flat display screens. The use of highly oriented single-walled carbon nanotubes as electron-transmitting materials not only makes the screen image clearer, but also shortens the distance between the electrons and the screen, thereby making a thinner television.
In energy science, carbon nanotubes also have a wide range of applications. Carbon nanotubes can store a large amount of hydrogen at low pressure. The fuel produced by this method not only has high safety performance, but also is a kind of clean energy. It will have broad prospects for development in the automotive industry. Carbon nanotubes can also be used in many high-tech fields. If it is used as a reinforcing agent and a conductive agent, an automobile protective member with excellent performance can be manufactured; using it as a catalyst carrier can significantly increase the activity and selectivity of the catalyst; and the strong microwave absorption property of the carbon nanotubes can make it be used as an absorbent. Invisible materials, electromagnetic shielding materials, or dark room absorbing materials.
Seizing the opportunity costs is the key There are generally three methods for preparing carbon nanotubes: arc discharge, laser ablation, and catalytic chemical vapor deposition (CVD). In the products produced by the arc discharge method and laser ablation method, carbon nanotubes coexist with other forms of carbon products, and separation and purification are difficult, the yield is low, and it is difficult to scale. The CVD method has the advantages of simple process, low cost, easy control of the size of the nanotubes, large length, high yield, etc., and has become the focus of current research efforts by various companies. In recent years, with the improvement of the technological level and the expansion of production scale, the production cost of CVD CNTs has been greatly reduced, and the selling price on the international market has also dropped from about US$200/g in 1999 to the current US$50/ Grams below.
In recent years, the global carbon nanotube market has been growing at a rate of 40%, but its future market is still uncertain. Schmidt said that if the cost and the selling price of carbon nanotubes can be continuously reduced in the next few years, the application area of ​​the product will become wider and wider. If the cost of carbon nanotubes cannot be reduced, it will inevitably affect its further development and application. Therefore, regardless of the size of the company, as long as it can develop a lower-cost carbon nanotube manufacturing technology, it can seize the market opportunities, occupy a greater share in this market.
Belten Mechanical & Electrical Manufacture Co., Ltd , http://www.tz-generator.com