As a step forward in completion of its line of Pleximer products that will improve the mechanical properties of many polymer composites, NaturalNano Inc. has successfully demonstrated ilot-scale dispersion of the Company's proprietary, functionalized halloysite nanotubes (HNT™) in polypropylene at levels ranging from 5-13%. This result follows the recent production of a nylon Pleximer at a manufacturing scale. Further trials with polypropylene will follow involving higher loadings of HNTs and production-scale equipment. Pleximer, which NaturalNano plans to offer commercially Q4-2007, is a turn-key nanocomposite additive enabling stronger, lighter, and less expensive materials for the $40 billion dollar polymer composite industry.
It has been historically difficult to disperse nanoclays in polypropylene because of the polymer's hydrophobic properties. The highly concentrated polypropylene Pleximer product would be added to pure polypropylene in the final molding process by the manufacturer to obtain nanocomposite materials with the desired properties for a wide range of applications, including automotive, fabrics, fibers, and packaging.
20-Mar-07 
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