COLOMBES, France - Arkema has received Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) approval for commercial sales of its Graphistrength® multiwall carbon nanotubes (CNTs) in the United States.

 

This approval gives the green light to Arkema Inc., Arkema’s U.S. subsidiary, to assist its existing and prospective customers in the United States currently conducting research and application tests involving CNTs with their commercial development on a larger scale. This should boost worldwide sales of Arkema’s Graphistrength masterbatches, which are already available in Europe and Asia.

 

Since it first began producing CNTs in 2006, Arkema has sought to develop, under the trademark Graphistrength, a whole range of high added value masterbatches designed to optimize the performance of CNTs in polymer matrices (thermoplastic, elastomer and thermoset).

 

In September 2009, Arkema announced the construction of a 400 ton-per-year CNT pilot production plant in France, confirming its global commitment to CNTs on a semi-industrial scale. The plant is due to come on stream early 2011.