Given the ongoing fundamental transformation of the automotive industry, increasingly more stringent environmental requirements, and the transition to electric vehicles, automakers around the world are displaying a keen interest in new polymers created with nanomaterials according to Russian compound company Research and Production (R&P) Polyplastic. Modification of plastics with graphene nanotubes provides impressive results in anti-friction and anti-wear coatings, as well as exterior parts painted using the electrostatic painting method.

R&P Polyplastic, a leading manufacturer of compounds, develops and introduces nanocomposite polymeric materials using Tuball graphene nanotubes synthesized by OCSiAl. One of their latest developments is nanomodified glass-filled polyamide 66 marketed under the trade name Armamid. Introducing as little as 0.15wt.% of Tuball and Matrix 826 (a concentrate of graphene nanotubes) into polyamide results in a volume resistivity of 10⁶ to 10⁸ Ωcm, required by industry standards, while the mechanical properties of the material are retained.

“Introducing nanotubes into polyamide drastically changes the properties of that material making it electrically conductive, which allows us to paint plastic parts without using a separate line. This significantly reduces the cost of production technology, making it more efficient and environmentally friendly. Unlike the previously used methods, nanomodification of polyamide ensures a constant resistivity level and does not have an adverse effect on the material’s durability”, says Alexandr Zimnyakov, OCSiAl Vice President for Sales in Russia and the CIS.

Production of car exterior parts from glass fiber-filled Armamid with graphene nanotubes is slated as an innovative solution for the automotive industry. The preproduction testing of an electrostatically-painted car fender made of a conductive polymer is scheduled to commence in 2020.

Technologies for introducing graphene nanotubes into various polymers including polyethylene, polypropylene and ABS plastic are also being developed today. Another current area of developments is nanomodified polypropylenes for electric vehicle components meant to reduce their weight.

“The impressive results we already see today confirm that the future of many industries may be associated with nanotube-modified materials, and R&P Polyplastic has the necessary research and production potential to achieve that”, says Mikhail Katsevman, R&D Director at Polyplastic.