April 22, 2008 — Angstron Materials LLC says it is the first advanced materials company to offer large quantities of single atomic layer thick nano-graphene platelets (NGPs). The carbon-based NGPs aim to be cost-effective, high-quality alternatives to nanotubes.
Angstron claims that NGPs outperform all other nanomaterials on the market: They demonstrate the highest thermal conductivity known today — five times that of copper — a capability that provides faster thermal dissipation; plus electrical conductivity similar to copper with a density four times lower — for lighter weight components. And, says Angstron, NGPs are 50 times stronger than steel with a surface area twice that of carbon nanotubes.
Angstron offers oxide-free, pristine NGP products in thicknesses ranging from 0.34 to 100 nanometers and widths of 0.5-20 microns. Exceptionally high length-to-thickness aspect ratios of up to 10,000 are available. In addition, the company can modify the chemistry of the nano-platelet surface to fine-tune electrical, thermal, mechanical, optical, magnetic, chemical and other key performance properties while maintaining precision control of platelet dimensions and other physical parameters.
Angstron’s engineered NPGs are available in several forms including raw materials and solutions. These solutions promise an exceptionally high loading and uniform dispersion without degrading viscosity. The NGPs can be blended with other nanomaterials to achieve higher loadings required for various forms of composite lamina as well as nanocomposites for load-bearing and functional applications.
Angstron can also tailor nanomaterial products to customers’ manufacturing processes, enhanced materials or device needs. The advanced materials specialist offers customers a total turnkey solution from application development and pilot quantities for test articles to scale-up for required production volumes. Angstron is currently working with companies to develop products for batteries, fuel cells, supercapacitors, light weight structural components as well as electromagnetic interference (EMI), radio magnetic indicator (RMI), electrostatic discharge (ESD), lightning strike and composite applications.