Nanotube Sheet and Yarn Manufacturing and Commercialization

Abstract

Nanotube macroscale materials such as yarns, tapes, and sheets provide combinations of material properties that are unique relative to existing materials. Although nanotube sheet and yarn commercialization is still an emerging activity, these materials may become important in the future Business and Economics of societies. Therefore, this paper surveys current worldwide efforts toward manufacturing and commercialization of nanotube macroscale materials. The survey will help researchers, investors and economists consider how the new materials might be used in new applications and how the materials might spur economic development. Nanotube macroscale materials consist of yarn, tapes, and sheets, and exclude powdered forms of nanotubes used as filler materials. Both Carbon Nanotube (CNT) and Boron Nitride Nanotube (BNNT) materials are considered. It is anticipated that macroscale sheet and yarn with customizable properties will have broad applications. This paper is organized to provide ideas for possible areas of applications of nanotube yarn and sheet, followed by a survey of current commercialization efforts. Manufacturing barriers that must be overcome to push the development of nanotube macroscale materials toward large scale commercialization are also discussed. The paper also provides references for researchers and industry professionals who may want to further develop and put nanotube macroscale materials into their own applications.