Plastics compounder RTP , Winona, Minn., has commercialized nylon nanocomposites for film and sheet applications, and Triton Systems, Chelmsford, Mass., works in packaging. Dow Chemical and Magna International are developing production technology for automotive applications under the government's Advanced Technology Program. In Japan, Ube Industries and Unitika are commercial producers of nylon nanocomposites. The company says it can manufacture bulk amounts and is collaborating with plastics producers and users, including the Air Force. Several large applications are close to commercialization, meaning they will hit the market within the next few months.
Carbon nanotube polymer composites are gaining interest as well.
According to Principia Partners , Exton, Pa., the market for these composites will reach about 80,000 tons by 2009. These materials avoid static buildup and are suited for electronic wafer processing, disk drive components, and clean room applications, RTP says, in addition to automotive applications where static discharge is important. MER has bulk production capabilities of up to 30 kg per day, a development joint venture with Mitsubishi, and has licensed production technology to Honjo Chemicals in Japan. Applications are emerging that look like they will reach commercialization and use large quantities. An area that appears to have great promise is in electrodes, primarily in the battery industry.