Low-cost, high volume production and ease of integration is crucial for the development of widespread application of nanotech-enabled products. This month we look at recent developments and breakthroughs.
BASF and Landa Labs have signed strategic long-term partnership to develop nano-pigments for coatings. Under this exclusive agreement, BASF will employ Landa’s revolutionary nano-pigment technology in a new portfolio of easy dispersible ultra-high transparency pigments marketed under the Colors & Effects brand. This groundbreaking development will offer unprecedented color depth while significantly simplifying the production of automotive coatings.
“We are very excited to partner with Landa in this cutting-edge venture,” said Alexander Haunschild, senior vice president, pigments, BASF. “We see the remarkable impact that Benny Landa and his company are having in the printing industry and are proud to bring this amazing technology to our customers in the automotive coatings market. This long-term collaboration demonstrates our commitment to differentiate our customers’ business by bringing new technology to demanding markets.”
The Landa nano-pigment technology – originally developed for the printing industry – allows BASF to introduce a new generation of Colors & Effects pigments with the highest quality consistency for the final automotive coating. The smaller size and narrower particle distribution leads to a thinner, higher chroma coating.
BioDirection, a privately held medical device company developing novel and rapid point-of-care products for the diagnosis and management of concussions and other acquired traumatic brain injuries, announced that the company has closed a $2 million interim
inancing to support clinical development of the Tbit™ System, the first technology positioned to deliver a rapid and objective point-of-care blood test for concussion diagnosis.
The Tbit System uses a patented nanotechnology biosensor to rapidly detect and accurately measure protein biomarkers that are released from the brain immediately following a head trauma. The portable system allows for testing to be performed at the initial stages of medical diagnosis and intervention. Earlier diagnosis of a concussion can support more appropriate treatment decisions while reducing unnecessary head CT scans.
Nippon Paper Industries has established Japan’s largest cellulose nanofiber (CNF) production line at its plant in the city of Ishinomaki. “We’re going to grow CNF into a new pillar of our business. This year is going to be an extremely important one for us,” President Fumio Manoshiro said at the opening ceremony.
The new, 1.6 billion yen ($14.4 million) production line was set up inside its Ishinomaki mill, which mainly produces printing paper. The company is targeting annual production of 500 tons. The company also plans to launch CNF production lines at plants in Shizuoka and Shimane prefectures.
Quantum Materials Corp and Freschfield PLC have announced the execution of a funded collaboration agreement by which Quantum will work with Freschfield to integrate Quantum Materials Corp advanced Nanomaterials including quantum dot-based solar photovoltaics into Freschfield’s SmartSkinz. Freschfield has synthesized solar and hydrogen fuel cell technologies into an outer layer building skin – SmartSkinz – which creates a perpetual carbon-free energy source, under any weather condition, time of day and location. Quantum Materials’ development will focus on developing and deploying advanced nanomaterials to optimize system performance on several levels including the building-integrated photovoltaics (BIPV) component of SmartSkinz.
CNF TOILET WIPES
Japan paper manufacturing giant Daio Paper Corp., has launched a paper toilet cleaner made from cellluose nanofibers (CNF).
Cellluose nanofibers (CNF) have already found their way into sanitary products in Japan, with Nippon Paper Industries’ launching diapers for adults, comprising CNF in 2015. Daio Paper Corp., has also brought a product to the market utilizing the remarkable properties of CNF. The company says CNF’s ultrafine fiber composition means that the product has the capacity to eliminate bacteria and dirt around toilets that cannot be seen by the naked eye. The product is also said to be much harder to tear than conventional paper cleaners for toilets.
NANOCELLULOSE THERMOPLASTICS
American Process Inc., Will & Co B.V. (Badhoevedorp, the Netherlands), and P.R.G. B.V. (Gemert, the Netherlands) have signed a Joint Development Agreement to develop, produce and supply ready-to-use thermoplastic compounds reinforced with nanocellulose. While conventional cellulose-based fibers are currently used in plastic compounding for commercial products, high aspect ratio, crystalline nanocellulose can offer unique features including enhanced mechanical properties.
BioCurrent Technologies, a microbe-based, sustainable nanomaterials company, was named “Best in Show” by the audience and “Most Fundable” by the investor panel at MABA’s 1st Pitch Life Science New Jersey event held on April 18, 2017 at Rutgers University in Piscataway, N.J. The company is developing natural biowire technologies to replace environmentally harmful, finite and expensive nanotubes and other nanotechnologies.
