SILICONES AND CARBON NANOTUBES: FROM ANTISTATIC TO FIRE BARRIER AND FOULING RELEASE COATINGS

摘要

It is quite well known that Carbon Nanotubes (CNT) impart anti-static properties to the polymer matrix wherein they are embedded and it is therefore not surprising that CNT/silicone resin dispersions also exhibit very good antistatic properties (StatiCyl~(TM)). However what is less well known is that, through careful selection of the silicone and CNT, it is possible to obtain dispersions with excellent flame barrier or fouling release properties. ThermoCyl~(TM), a silicone resin/CNT coating, is not only an excellent fire barrier, even at low coating thicknesses and high temperatures (over 1000°C) over long periods, but serves also as a thermal barrier to the coated substrate. BioCyl~(TM) on the other hand exhibits excellent fouling release properties thanks to the microstructure of the coating surface and is therefore the material of choice for non-toxic marine fouling release coatings.