Nanografi; Turkey’s first and only Company to Produce Carbon Nanotubes

Nanografi has been considered worthy to be given grants by the most reputable research council and enterprise development organizations in Turkey and was founded as an R&D performing SME in 2011 with the support of TUBITAK (The Scientific and Technological Research Council of Turkey) and KOSGEB (Small and Medium Enterprises Development Organization). Nanografi, is the first and only company that produces carbon nanotubes in Turkey. The company’s major focus is on R&D of carbon nanotube (CNT) production and innovation at their applications. Nanografi supplies single walled, multiwalled and functionalized nanotubes and masterbatches of carbon nanotubes is in most common polymers for research and commercial purposes.

Projects

Currently, Nanografi has three projects which are separately funded by TUBITAK , KOSGEB and European Union. CNT synthesis is performed by the company’s unique and patented reactor system which was an outcome of TUBITAK project. Produced CNTs have high tensile strength and incomparable thermal, electrical conductivities. Also our reactor system uses botanical carbon precursor for CNT production. It is a renewable source and use of plantal precursor lessens the amount of chemicals required for CNT synthesis. These properties of our raw material make the process environmentally-friendly.

In order to ease the usage of CNTs in various applications, like nanocomposites, electrostatic discharging, improving fracture toughness, failure strength, chemical treatments are applied on CNTs as a part of KOSGEB project. Also work-packages on increasing production rate and yield of CNT is in progress. The treatments lead us to the availability of producing masterbatches of CNTs.

Masterbatches of CNT impregnated polymers provides vast applications in industries such as automotive, marine, aerospace. When masterbatches are mixed with industrial polymers mainly fracture toughness, electrostatic discharge, failure strength and to some extent flame resistance properties are improved.

Nanografi is a partner of an EUROSTARS project which is co-funded by European Communities and 33 EUREKA member countries. 5 partners, 3 Spanish and 2 Turkish companies, will be active for the title of Composite-tempered Glass Profiles and Panels for Light Structures in Construction. In EUREKA our role is to provide technical basis for the possible products and also to conduct experiments related with nanomaterials and characterization of products. Nanografi is technically responsible partner for achieving the declared standards of products as a project outcome.

Cooperations

Carbon nanotube market and demand is growing in Turkey as it is growing all over the world although CNT requires advanced treatments before arriving it’s last customer. Nanografi believes when these treatments are excelled demand will escalate. Our company has been cooperating with universities and advanced material companies for achieving excellence in those treatments.

Carbon nanotube is a hot topic still in academic literature and new studies are followed with METU (Middle East Technical University) Department of Metallurgical and Materials Engineering and Department of Aerospace Engineering. Researches on applications and production are carried out with advices of faculty members as a result of idea exchange. Measurements related with CNTs are also made with faculty’s instruments.

Composite application is a major field for CNT usage; and in order to adapt to the sector, cooperation has been made with several composite companies who are purchasing structural parts for Turkish defence industry. In METU Aerospace Engineering Department, CNT masterbatches are used for composites with complex geometry for aviation parts. Produced sample composites firstly tested for mechanical properties and results show surprising improvements in tensile strength and fracture toughness. Moreover polymers containing very low concentration of CNT have gained considerable electrical and thermal conductivities which can be comparable with common metals.

Future Projects and Applications

In 2013, Nanografi will also focus on specific applications for the parts being used in aerospace structures. Several trials had been made due to weight reduction and to increase fracture toughness in critical parts. This application is being studied with TAI (Turkish Aerospace Industry) and Department of Aerospace Engineering in METU.

Furthermore, Nanografi is also aiming to settle Turkey’s first prepreg line which will consist CNTs. So that, all prepreg products being purchased in a great quantity from other countries will be produced in Turkey and with much more improved characteristics. This project will be held with Undersecreteriat for Defence Industries of Turkey.

The company headquarter is currently located at ODTU Teknokent and is going to be enlarged with one sales office in Ankara and one bigger facility in OSTIM Organized Industrial Region.