Carbon Nanotubes

An artist’s rendition of Kumho’s carbon nanotube plant in Asan, South Chungcheong Province, Korea.
An artist’s rendition of Kumho’s carbon nanotube plant in Asan, South Chungcheong Province, Korea.

 

Kumho Petrochemical announced on December 11 that the production of carbon nanotubes (CNTs) will kick into high gear after the completion of a plant that produces the material inside the company’s factory for electronic materials in Asan. It has been 4 years since the company revealed its intention to make full-scale expansion into the business of carbon nanotubes.

As one allotrope of carbon, CNTs have been touted for use in various areas, including batteries, semiconductors, cars, aircraft, home appliances, household items, and bio products. The material has 1,000 times higher conductivity than copper and 100 times higher tensile strength than steel. Thus, next-gen nanotechnology for the carbon material has been drawing a lot of attention.

First, the Korean company is planning to sell CNT products. Then it plans to develop basic materials for preventing static cling, and other application resins combined with its own plastic products such as electromagnetic shielding materials and thermal protection composite materials. Its mid to long-term plan is to make lightweight tires that are much more wear-resistant using synthetic rubber, in partnership with tire manufacturers. 

The 543,860 square meter plant can produce 50 tons of CNTs per year. Kumho Petrochemical is going to gradually increase its production up to 300 tons, in line with the maturity of the market for carbon nanotubes. With this plan, the company aims to achieve 1 trillion won (US$950 billion) in sales by 2020. 

In the meantime, the global CNT market is expected to be worth about 80 trillion won (US$76 billion) in 2020, according to market research firm IDTechex.

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