Nanotechnology Now - Press Release: Baytubes® for improved energy efficiency and CO2 balance

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Aluminum powder reinforced with Baytubes® can be extruded into a wide range of semi-finished products, such as profiles. The material can also be used to produce bolts, pipes and bars. All these semi-finished parts can subsequently be processed into end products.

Abstract:
At the "Nanotech 2009" in Tokyo, under the motto "The Future is Nano", Bayer MaterialScience AG will showcase a number of technical innovations based on its product Baytubes® (carbon nanotubes, CNTs). The spotlight will be on a number of new industrial applications featuring Baytubes® that have been developed in collaboration with some of Bayer MaterialScience's partners for the chemical, mechanical engineering, sports goods and electrical/electronics industries. "Based on the example of a new CNT-reinforced aluminum powder and rotor blades for wind turbines, we want to demonstrate in Tokyo the tremendous possibilities our carbon nanotubes open up, for example, in the field of lightweight construction," explained the head of the global Baytubes® business, Martin Schmid, in advance of the world's largest and most important trade fair for nanotechnology. "Weight reduction," he added, "results in much improved energy efficiency and a better CO2 balance".

Baytubes® for improved energy efficiency and CO2 balance

Leverkusen, Germany | Posted on February 18th, 2009

Reinforced composite materials based on Baytubes® and aluminum powder offer entirely new design opportunities in lightweight construction. For example, CNT components have much higher mechanical strength, which, in turn, means they can be produced with much thinner walls and therefore weigh much less than their counterparts of non-reinforced aluminum. The tensile strength of this new class of materials is similar to that of steel, but it weighs only half as much because of the lower density. This qualifies it as an ideal lightweight alternative to steel in many demanding applications - for example in the manufacture of components for sports equipment or heavy-duty bolts and screws. With its high thermal conductivity it also has many potential applications in the energy, electrical and computer industries. "Cooling elements made of CNT-reinforced aluminum could dissipate the heat from electrical devices much more efficiently. This would make it possible, for example, to significantly increase the performance of processors and computers," says Schmid.

The length of the rotor blades in wind turbines is limited by their weight. Rotor blades manufactured from the new composite material based on carbon and glass fiber-reinforced epoxides with carbon nanotubes are 10 to 30 percent lighter and also much stronger than straight epoxy systems. The material's impact strength, for example, is 20 to 30 percent higher and its fatigue properties are 50 to 200 percent better. "Thanks to this outstanding set of properties, rotor blades made of this new composite material can be made longer, which significantly raises the output of wind power plants," noted Schmid.

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About Bayer MaterialScience AG
With 2007 sales of EUR 10.4 billion, Bayer MaterialScience is among the world’s largest polymer companies. Business activities are focused on the manufacture of high-tech polymer materials and the development of innovative solutions for products used in many areas of daily life. The main segments served are the automotive, electrical and electronics, construction and the sports and leisure industries. At the end of 2007, Bayer MaterialScience had 30 production sites and employed approximately 15,400 people around the globe. Bayer MaterialScience is a Bayer Group company.

A podcast on this topic can be found here: www.podcast.bayer.com

Forward-Looking Statements
This release may contain forward-looking statements based on current assumptions and forecasts made by Bayer Group or subgroup management. Various known and unknown risks, uncertainties and other factors could lead to material differences between the actual future results, financial situation, development or performance of the company and the estimates given here. These factors include those discussed in Bayer’s public reports which are available on the Bayer website at www.bayer.com. The company assumes no liability whatsoever to update these forward-looking statements or to conform them to future events or developments.

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Contacts:
Andrea Knebel-Kyriakidis
Head of External Communications
Address: Bayer MaterialScience AG
Building: K 12
Germany-51368 Leverkusen
Telephone: + 49 (0) 214-30-70313
Telefax: + 49 (0) 214-30-66426

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