More About the World’s Largest Nano Company OCSiAl
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In a previous article, we highlighted the acquisition of Zyvex Technologies by OCSiAl in what was said to be the creation of the world’s largest nanotechnology company. While our previous article looked into more details about Zyvex, this article will examine the acquiring company, OCSiAl.
About OCSiAl
While not winning any awards for catchiest company name, OCSiAl was started in 2009 by a Russian physicist named Mikhail Predtechensky and a cohort of other Russian businessmen. The company has 160 people employed with offices in Palo Alto, Moscow, the UK, and South Korea. The firm is headquartered in Luxembourg with manufacturing operations in Novosibirsk, Russia.
OCSiAl’s Carbon Nanotubes
Below is an estimate of future carbon nanotube (CNT) demand according to OCSiAl which by 2020 will grow up to seven times reaching 3,728 metric tons:
OCSiAl is well-positioned to take advantage of this growth with a synthesis process they introduced this year allowing literally unlimited output and unrivaled low production costs of carbon nanotubes. The company claims to have the world’s largest nanotube production facility, Graphetron 1.0, which was launched in November of 2013. The facility is currently producing more than 1 ton of single-wall carbon nanotubes per year with a maximum capacity of up to 10 tons per year. In the near future, they expect to achieve a target of 30 tons per year.
The Company’s product is TUBALL, which contains 75% and more of single-wall carbon nanotubes (SWCNTs) and can be used as a universal additive, which will enhance the strength, electric and thermal conductivity of most materials, such as polymer composites, rubbers, metals, and others. The primary target applications for this additive are lithium-ion batteries, tires and other rubber materials, and nanocomposites.
OCSiAl can also produce customized materials under the brand of TUBALL® R&D which can be manufactured to client specifications in quantities as low as 0.5 kg.
Conclusion
The company doesn’t make many mentions of how much product they are selling, nor whom they are selling it to. Zyvex was one customer who was using their nanotubes prior to the acquisition. Given their strong production capacity and recent merger, OCSiAl remains one private nanotechnology company that should be watched closely in the coming years.
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