OCSiAl study reveals graphene nanotubes cut conductive material CO2 emissions up to 26%

Source | OCSiAl LLC

Replacing traditional additives with a dosage of just tenths or even hundredths of a percent of graphene nanotubes can enable manufacturers to significantly reduce the carbon footprint of conductive materials by a minimum of 5% — and even up to 26%. “This research is part of OCSiAl’s sustainability strategy,” says Konstantin Notman, CEO of carbon nanotube company OCSiAl (Leudelange, Luxembourg). “We support customers across the value chain through improved production efficiency, renewable energy use and optimized logistics.”

The level of emission reduction that’s possible depends on the type of conductive additive being replaced, such as multi-walled carbon nanotubes (MWCNTs) or carbon black, as well as on the specific polymer system used. To quantify this impact, OCSiAl, in collaboration with an environmental sustainability consultancy, conducted an internal study comparing emissions across a range of applications in industries including automotive, construction and energy. The estimates were performed using an ISO 14040/14044-compliant life cycle assessment, based on the bill of materials and covering raw materials, transportation, processing and waste associated with conductive additive manufacture.

Conductive polymers are essential for modern electronics, vehicles and healthcare and industrial equipment and yet their emissions are a third higher compared to the manufacture of nonconductive materials (because of high loading levels required for traditional conductive additives, inefficient material use, higher transportation emissions, etc.). As industries move from sustainability targets to implementation, OCSiAl believes that graphene nanotubes are positioned to play a central role in this transition.