Sabic JV to set up nanotubes production plant in Saudi Arabia

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Saudi Basic Industries Corporation (Sabic), ranked among the top petrochemical companies in the world, has joined hands with Molecular Rebar Design, a company based in Texas (US), to develop and commercialise nanomaterials for select market segments and applications.

Molecular Rebar Design boasts research laboratories and a market development plant dedicated to the development and commercialisation of individual clean carbon nanotubes trademarked as Molecular Rebar.

Nanotubes production

As per the deal, the new joint venture firm, Black Diamond Structures, will develop, manufacture, and commercialise products based on Molecular Rebar Design’s unique and revolutionary carbon nanotube (CNT) technology, Molecular Rebar, said a statement from Sabic.

CNTs when made commercially consist of large entangled bundles of nanotubes. These bundles are far less useful than discreet or individual nanotubes.

Molecular Rebar are discreet, open ended, highly functionalised CNTs that are free from catalysts and waste matter and are demonstrated to advance the science and applications for nanomaterials, it added.

Black Diamond Structures will focus on applications in select market segments including energy storage, energy generation, automotive and light truck, consumer electronics and construction.

Commenting on the JV, Ernesto Occhiello, the executive vice president (Technology & Innovation) at Sabic, said: “Black Diamond Structures is aligned to Sabic’s 2025 strategy and part of the drive to develop higher value-added specialty businesses globally and in Saudi Arabia.”

“Sabic believes that nanotechnology is an important part of the future. We focus on making nanointermediates more viable for industrial implementation via improved scale-up, ease/effectiveness of use and partnership with customers. We believe the new JV is well aligned with emerging market needs, and thus is poised for accelerated deployment and development for both existing and new applications,” he added.

Molecular Rebar Design CEO Kurt Swogger said: “We believe the synergistic combination of our advanced nanotechnologies with Sabic’s commercial and manufacturing capabilities will lead to many exciting opportunities for innovative, new materials in high growth market segments.”

Molecular Rebar materials dramatically improve the transport, physical and electro-magnetic properties of materials for use in batteries, capacitors, coatings, rubber parts, medicines and a host of other products, he added.

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