This news article was originally written in Spanish. It has been automatically translated for your convenience. Reasonable efforts have been made to provide an accurate translation, however, no automated translation is perfect nor is it intended to replace a human translator. The original article in Spanish can be viewed at Cómo reciclar las nanopartículas más populares

The project Recytube, Aimplas, investigates the transformation of carbon nanotubes

How to recycle the most popular nanoparticles

Drafting Interempresas15/07/2011

July 18, 2011

The technological Institute of plastics (Aimplas) is carrying out the Recytube project which analyses the recyclability of one of the most important and used nanoparticles today: (CNT) carbon nanotubes. These nanomaterials are among the substances more promising due to their high mechanical, electrical and thermal performance.

Despite being the most used, these rare nanoparticles time go alone, but it is commonly combined with conventional materials (plastics, ceramics or metals) to obtain a hybrid material with properties tailored. But what happens with these materials when they arrive at the end of its useful life?

Carbon nanotubes. Photo: Aimplas.

The use of nanomaterials is rising in almost all industrial sectors: electricity and electronics, medical, packaging, etc. This type of materials offers a wide variety of improvements in comparison with conventional materials, although they also present new challenges as their high price, questions of Toxicology and environmental impact (durability, recyclability, etc.).

These rare nanoparticles time go alone, but they are often combined with plastic, ceramic or metal

For nanocomposites

The Recytube project aims to reuse of plastic industrial waste containing carbon nanotubes generated during the production of plastics, especially during the production of the masterbatch, compounding or injection moulding manufacturing processes. Such wastes will be used to produce new plastic nanocomposites with commercial value.

Different fast methods that could be used in the production plant to quantify of carbon nanotubes in polymer matrix and be able to predict the final properties of the material, without the need for costly laboratory equipment have been identified during the first phase of the project Recytube. Among the various studied methods, was a selection taking into account the easy, cheap and repeatability of results.

For the electrical and electronics industry

The next step in Recytube is focused on the development of parts for the electricity industry and electronics, using recycled nanocomposites containing carbon nanotubes. It will focus on the evaluation of changes in the environmental impact arising from the use of recycled CNT nanocomposites.

Three SMEs and Aimplas work together to cover completely the value chain of carbon nanotubes

The project is carried out by a consortium of three SMEs and a Research Center: Nanocyl (Belgium), Colorex (Netherlands), Faperin (Spain) and Aimplas (Spain). Among all is covered by complete value chain of carbon nanotubes, from the production of nanocargas (Nanocyl), through its incorporation to plastics (Nanocyl and Colorex), and finally, coming to the manufacture of plastic products (Faperin). Aimplas coordinates the project and, as r & d Center, provides technical assistance to members.

Recytube is a project of eco-innovation funded within the framework programme for competitiveness and innovation (CIP 2007-2013), managed by the Agency for competitiveness and innovation (Eaci).