Industrial Carbon Nanotubes Products

Quick Summary: Industrial Carbon Nanotubes Products

  • What it is — Bulk-quantity, production-grade CNTs and CNT composites for commercial applications
  • Manufacturing — Catalyzed CVD (CCVD), acid-purified
  • Best for — Production composites, conductive plastics, EMI shielding compounds, conductive coatings
  • Key tradeoff — Lower cost-per-gram than research-grade; higher catalyst residue and broader purity tolerance
  • Includes — Polymer masterbatches (PS, PP, PA6, PC, ABS), CNT-epoxy composites, bulk powder grades, and process intermediates

Industrial Carbon Nanotubes Products

Industrial carbon nanotubes are produced at production scale by catalyzed chemical vapor deposition (CCVD) and purified by acid treatment. They are less pure and have higher production residues than research-grade SWCNTs and MWCNTs, but at substantially lower cost-per-gram — the right tradeoff when you’re past R&D and into commercial production where cost-per-kilogram drives decisions more than peer-reviewed characterization data.

Cheap Tubes supplies bulk-quantity industrial CNTs along with process intermediates — polymer masterbatches and pre-compounded composites — that take the guesswork out of incorporating carbon nanotubes into commercial products. Instead of dealing with raw nanotube dispersion problems on your production line, you dilute a masterbatch to your target loading using standard compounding equipment.

Polymer masterbatches available

CNT masterbatches are pre-dispersed concentrates of carbon nanotubes in a thermoplastic carrier, formulated for direct dilution in production compounding. Available carrier resins:

  • Polystyrene (PS) — for transparent EMI shielding, antistatic packaging, conductive consumer plastics
  • Polypropylene (PP) — for automotive interior parts, antistatic films, conductive textiles
  • Polyamide 6 (PA6) — for engineering thermoplastics requiring conductivity plus mechanical strength
  • Polycarbonate (PC) — for transparent or translucent conductive components
  • ABS — for general-purpose conductive enclosures and consumer-electronics housings

Carbon Nanotubes Epoxy Composite is also available as a pre-formulated thermoset system for direct casting or coating applications.

When industrial grade is the right choice

Industrial-grade CNTs make sense when:

  • You’re producing in kilogram-scale to multi-kilogram quantities and per-gram cost dominates your bill of materials
  • Your application is insensitive to trace catalyst residues — bulk EMI shielding, conductive coatings, antistatic compounds
  • You need masterbatch or composite-form material rather than raw powder, to integrate with existing production equipment
  • You’ve already proven the application at lab scale with research-grade tubes and are now moving to production

For research applications, lot-to-lot reproducibility studies, or peer-reviewed work, our standard SWCNT and MWCNT product lines provide tighter purity specifications and more extensive characterization data.

Documentation and ordering

Every shipment includes a Technical Data Sheet (TDS), Safety Data Sheet (SDS), and Certificate of Analysis when requested at order placement. To see current pricing for a specific product and quantity, click through to the individual product page and enter your target quantity — the cart displays per-quantity pricing in real time. For orders above 1 kg or custom specifications, contact us directly for a same-day quote.

Frequently Asked Questions

What does ‘industrial grade’ mean for carbon nanotubes?
Industrial grade carbon nanotubes are produced at large scale by catalyzed chemical vapor deposition (CCVD) and purified by acid treatment. They are typically less pure than research-grade tubes (more catalyst residue, more amorphous carbon) but at substantially lower cost, making them suitable for production-scale composites, masterbatches, and bulk applications where cost-per-kilogram matters more than ultra-low-defect characterization.

When should I choose industrial grade vs research grade?
Choose industrial grade when you’re past R&D and into production scale — bulk composites, conductive plastics, EMI shielding compounds, conductive coatings, or any application where you need 100 g to multi-kilogram quantities at the lowest practical cost-per-gram. Choose research grade (our standard SWCNT/MWCNT product lines) when you’re characterizing a new material system, publishing peer-reviewed work, or your application is sensitive to trace metallic catalyst residues.

What polymer masterbatches are available?
Cheap Tubes offers carbon nanotube masterbatches in polystyrene (PS), polypropylene (PP), polyamide 6 (PA6), polycarbonate (PC), and ABS, plus a CNT-epoxy composite. Masterbatches let you dilute to your target loading using standard compounding equipment without dealing with raw nanotube dispersion problems.

Are bulk-quantity discounts available?
Yes. Pricing decreases significantly at quantities of 100 g, 500 g, and 1 kg. For orders above 1 kg, individual quotes are issued based on lead time and any custom specification requirements. Contact us with your target quantity and application for a same-day quote.

How is industrial-grade material shipped?
Industrial-grade CNT powders ship as ground-non-hazardous in moisture-resistant sealed containers. Air shipment is available; international shipments may have country-specific restrictions — contact us before placing an international order. Each shipment includes a Technical Data Sheet, Safety Data Sheet, and Certificate of Analysis (when requested).

Industrial Grade Carbon Nanotubes: High Volume at Lower Cost

Industrial grade carbon nanotubes are produced at larger scale using catalytic chemical vapor deposition (CCVD) with less intensive post-processing than research-grade MWCNTs. The result is a material with higher residual catalyst content (iron, cobalt, or nickel) and more amorphous carbon than standard research grades — but at significantly lower cost per kilogram. For commercial applications where CNT purity is less critical than cost-efficiency at scale, industrial CNT grades deliver the electrical, mechanical, and thermal performance needed at pricing that makes large-volume production economically viable.

Cheap Tubes offers industrial CNTs as dry powders, pre-dispersed masterbatches in common thermoplastics, and epoxy composite additives, allowing customers to choose the product form that best matches their manufacturing process.

Industrial CNTs vs. Research Grade MWCNTs

Property Industrial CNTs Research Grade MWCNTs
Carbon Purity 85–95% 90–99%+
Residual Catalyst 5–15% <5%
Outer Diameter 10–40 nm 8–50 nm (various grades)
Electrical Conductivity 10²–10⁴ S/m 10³–10⁷ S/m
Price $85–600/kg $10–50/g
Min. Order Quantity 100g–1kg 1g
Typical Applications Composites, coatings, ESD Research, specialty composites

CNT Masterbatches

Carbon nanotube masterbatches are pre-compounded pellets containing 5–20 wt% CNTs dispersed in a carrier polymer — ABS, PA6 (Nylon 6), polycarbonate (PC), or polypropylene (PP). Masterbatches solve the most difficult practical challenge with CNT composites: achieving uniform dispersion in the final polymer matrix. Rather than handling dry CNT powder (dusty, difficult to disperse, health and safety considerations), processors dilute masterbatch pellets into their base polymer on standard compounding or injection molding equipment.

The dilution ratio determines the final CNT loading. A 10 wt% masterbatch diluted 1:9 with base polymer gives a 1 wt% final loading — typically sufficient for ESD protection (surface resistivity 10⁶–10⁹ Ω/sq) and approaching the threshold for EMI shielding. Higher loadings (3–5 wt%) achieve EMI shielding effectiveness of 20–30 dB for electronics housings.

Available Masterbatch Carrier Polymers

  • ABS masterbatch — for consumer electronics housings, automotive interior parts
  • PA6 (Nylon 6) masterbatch — for automotive under-hood, structural parts requiring chemical resistance
  • Polycarbonate masterbatch — for optical-quality parts, medical devices, transparent applications
  • Polypropylene masterbatch — for packaging, automotive, low-cost consumer goods

CNT Epoxy Composite Additive

The epoxy composite additive is a pre-dispersed CNT/epoxy resin formulation that eliminates the high-shear mixing step required when adding dry CNT powder to epoxy systems. The CNTs are uniformly dispersed in a low-viscosity epoxy resin at 1–5 wt% loading, ready to blend with standard hardeners. This product is designed for composites fabricators, adhesive manufacturers, and potting compound producers who want CNT-enhanced properties without modifying their existing processing infrastructure.

Applications of Industrial Carbon Nanotubes

ESD and Antistatic Components

At 1–3 wt% loading in thermoplastics, industrial CNTs reduce surface resistivity from insulating (>10¹³ Ω/sq) to antistatic (10⁶–10⁹ Ω/sq) or ESD-safe (<10⁶ Ω/sq). This is the largest commercial application for CNTs globally, with millions of kilograms consumed annually in semiconductor packaging trays, electronics carriers, fuel system components, and cleanroom equipment. The advantage over carbon black: CNTs achieve ESD targets at 2–5× lower loading, preserving mechanical properties and surface finish.

Structural Composites

At 1–5 wt% in engineering thermoplastics or thermoset resins, industrial CNTs improve tensile strength by 20–40%, stiffness by 30–60%, and impact resistance by 15–30%. These improvements translate directly to lighter parts or reduced wall thickness in structural automotive, aerospace, and industrial applications. Industrial-grade CNTs provide most of the mechanical benefit of research grades at a fraction of the cost.

Corrosion-Resistant Coatings

CNT-reinforced epoxy coatings applied to steel, aluminum, and concrete structures show significantly improved barrier properties against water, oxygen, and chloride ion penetration. Studies show 2–5× improvement in corrosion protection lifetime compared to unfilled epoxy coatings at 0.5–2 wt% CNT loading. Industrial CNT grades are well-suited for this application given the large coating areas involved and the cost-sensitivity of infrastructure projects.

Air and Water Filtration

Industrial CNT powders and films are used in filtration membranes for removing particulates, bacteria, heavy metal ions, and organic contaminants from water and air streams. CNT-based filters offer high flux rates and can be regenerated by backflushing or thermal treatment. The antimicrobial properties of CNTs (mechanical disruption of bacterial cell walls) add a passive disinfection capability absent from polymer fiber filters.

Ordering and Scale-Up

Industrial CNT products are priced at $85–600/kg depending on product form (dry powder, masterbatch, composite additive) and order volume. All products ship from Vermont with SDS documentation. For large-volume orders or custom formulations — specific polymer carriers, CNT loading, or composite formulations — contact our technical team to discuss your requirements. We support customers from initial evaluation through production ramp and can supply from lab-scale (100g) to production-scale (multi-kg) quantities.

Frequently Asked Questions

How do industrial-grade CNTs differ from research-grade?

Industrial-grade CNTs are produced at higher throughput with looser specifications on outer diameter distribution, length, and trace metal residue, in exchange for substantially lower cost per kilogram and shorter lead times at scale. Research-grade products carry tighter specs (narrower OD distribution, lower ash, full Raman/SEM/TGA characterization per batch) and are priced for gram-to-kilogram quantities. For commercial composite, conductive additive, and EMI shielding applications, industrial-grade is appropriate. For published research and material qualification studies, research-grade is recommended.

What price tiers and lead times should I expect at scale?

For 1 to 10 kg quantities, ship times are typically 1 to 2 weeks from in-stock inventory at industrial-grade pricing. For 10 to 100 kg, lead times move to 3 to 6 weeks depending on the specific product. For metric-ton scale, contact us for a quote with current production windows; we work with multiple manufacturing partners and can typically commit to 8 to 12 week scheduling with custom blend specifications. Volume discounts of 30 to 60 percent off catalog start at 5 kg.

Can I get a custom blend or formulation?

Yes. We routinely produce custom CNT blends with specific OD ranges, length distributions, surface chemistry, or carrier polymer combinations for industrial customers. Custom development for masterbatches and conductive composites typically requires a 1 kg minimum and 3 to 5 weeks lead time for the development run, with a Technical Data Sheet and SEM characterization included. Production-scale orders follow once the formulation is qualified.

What is the typical purity for industrial grades?

Industrial-grade MWCNTs are typically 90 to 95 percent carbon by TGA, with 1 to 5 percent residual catalyst metals (Fe, Co, Ni, or Mo depending on the manufacturing route). For applications requiring very low metal content (electrochemistry, biomedical, semiconductor), we offer acid-purified grades at 97 to 99 percent purity at a higher price point. Each industrial batch ships with a representative TDS; SDS is included.

Do you offer technical support for scale-up?

Yes. For industrial customers, we provide dispersion protocol guidance, formulation starting points for typical applications (cathode slurries, EMI shielding compounds, antistatic films, conductive composites), and recommendations for pilot-line processing equipment. For projects beyond standard guidance, we can arrange consulting calls with our technical team or refer you to formulation partners with hands-on production experience.