NaturalNano Announces Successful Pilot-Scale Demonstration of Halloysite Nanotubes in Polypropylene.ROCHESTER, N.Y. -- NaturalNano, Inc. (OTCBB OTCBB See OTC Bulletin Board (OTCBB). : NNAN) (FWB (Fixed Wireless Broadband) See fixed wireless. : N3N) (www.naturalnano.com), a materials science materials science Study of the properties of solid materials and how those properties are determined by the material's composition and structure, both macroscopic and microscopic. company, today announced the successful pilot-scale dispersion of the Company's proprietary, functionalized halloysite nanotubes (HNT HNT Hostage Negotiation Team [TM]) in polypropylene polypropylene (pŏl'ēprō`pəlēn), plastic noted for its light weight, being less dense than water; it is a polymer of propylene. It resists moisture, oils, and solvents. at levels ranging from 5% to 13%. Following closely on the recent production of a nylon Pleximer at the manufacturing scale, this latest result is another step toward a complete line of Pleximer products that will improve the mechanical properties of many polymer composites. Further trials with polypropylene will follow involving higher loadings of HNTs and production-scale equipment. Pleximer, which NaturalNano plans to offer commercially in fourth quarter 2007, is a turn-key nanocomposite additive enabling stronger, lighter, and less expensive materials for the $40 billion dollar polymer composite industry. "We are very encouraged by this first pilot-scale demonstration of HNTs in polypropylene," stated Cathy Fleischer, PhD, President and CTO (Chief Technical Officer) The executive responsible for the technical direction of an organization. See CIO and salary survey. of NaturalNano. She noted that historically it has been difficult to disperse nanoclays in polypropylene because of the polymer's hydrophobic hydrophobic /hy·dro·pho·bic/ (-fo´bik) 1. pertaining to hydrophobia (rabies). 2. not readily absorbing water, or being adversely affected by water. 3. properties. "The fact that we can perform runs under standard machine conditions and get excellent dispersion is quite promising," Fleischer said. The highly concentrated polypropylene Pleximer product would be added to pure polypropylene in the final molding process by the manufacturer to obtain nanocomposite materials with the desired properties for a wide range of applications, including automotive, fabrics, fibers, and packaging. In addition to the excellent dispersion of HNTs in polypropylene, this trial run once again demonstrated the improved properties that Pleximer additives impart to polymer nanocomposite materials. The modulus--a measure of stiffness--of the polypropylene composite containing treated HNTs was almost double that of polypropylene alone. In addition to the extra stiffness, tensile strength tensile strength Ratio of the maximum load a material can support without fracture when being stretched to the original area of a cross section of the material. When stresses less than the tensile strength are removed, a material completely or partially returns to its was increased while maintaining the desirable elongation elongation, in astronomy, the angular distance between two points in the sky as measured from a third point. The elongation of a planet is usually measured as the angular distance from the sun to the planet as measured from the earth. properties of the polymer. Traditional layered nanoclays require extra processing and specialized equipment to separate the layers and disperse them throughout a polymer system. NaturalNano's HNTs, utilizing the Company's proprietary, patent-pending formulation and processes, do not require an extra separation step, and can be run on standard equipment, enabling manufacturers to produce nanocomposites without additional capital investment. About NaturalNano, Inc. NaturalNano, Inc. (OTCBB:NNAN) (FWB:N3N) is a nanomaterials company developing proprietary technologies and processes for providing novel properties for a wide range of applications. These include industrial polymers, plastics and composites; and additives to cosmetics, agricultural, and household products. NaturalNano holds over twenty issued or pending patents and proprietary know-how for extraction and separation processes, of halloysite and other nanotubes, in combination with other materials for a wide range of applications. For more information, please visit http://www.naturalnano.com. Cautionary Statement Regarding Forward-Looking Statements forward-looking statement A projected financial statement based on management expectations. A forward-looking statement involves risks with regard to the accuracy of assumptions underlying the projections. This press release may contain forward-looking statements regarding future events and future performance of NaturalNano that involve risks and uncertainties that could materially affect actual results. This information is qualified in its entirety by cautionary statements and risk factors disclosure contained in certain of NaturalNano's filings with the Securities and Exchange Commission. The most recent annual reports on Form 10-KSB and quarterly reports on Form 10-QSB filed by NaturalNano provide information about these factors, which may be revised or supplemented in future reports to the SEC on those forms or on Form 8-K Form 8-K The form required by the SEC when a publicly held company incurs any event that might affect its financial situation or the share value of its stock. Form 8-K See 8-K. . We caution investors not to place undue reliance on forward-looking statements, and we do not undertake any obligation to update or otherwise revise any forward-looking statements, whether as a result of new information, future events, or other such factors that affect the subject of these statements, except where expressly required by law. |
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