European company granted US patent for nanodiamond-containing polymers

Finnish company Carbodeon, the manufacturer of uDiamond NanoDiamonds and Nicanite graphitic carbon nitride, has been granted a US patent for its technology that enables detonation-synthesised diamond particles (nanodiamonds) to be combined with polymers for use in fields such as personal electronics, LED lighting, automotive and machine tools.

Diamonds are the hardest natural mineral, and also one of the most thermally conductive materials known, so when nanodiamonds are mixed with thermoplastic polymers in controlled amounts, they can enable plastic materials to conduct heat at pre-determined rates, and/or to be highly wear-resistant.

Nanodiamond-impregnated polymers can deliver heat-conducting benefits for products including LED lighting, mobile devices including mobile phones, and Internet-of-Things (IoT) enabled devices of any type. The hard-wearing properties mean they can also be used in the aerospace and automotive sectors to enable longer product life in hard-wear environments.

Carbodeon has been granted US patent number 9085723 on their developed nanodiamond containing thermoplastic thermal composites. The patent was filed after Carbodeon's own developments during 2012-2013 where it discovered the thermal conductivity of thermoplastics can be significantly enhanced by adding nanodiamonds, usually in relatively small quantities. Since filing the patent the company has continued its own research as well as developing the range of commercial applications of the technology.

Vesa Myllymaki, Carbodeon CTO said, "The granting of this patent represents a key part of our nanodiamond composite material portfolio. The combined coverage of our filed and granted patents will secure our position and that of our customers in several nanodiamond applications including polymers for thermal management applications, wear and corrosion resistant nanodiamond metal finishing, and wear resistant/ low friction nanodiamond fluoropolymer coatings."

Gavin Farmer, Carbodeon Business Development Manager said, "This latest achievement means that we will now accelerate our marketing of Carbodeon uDiamond NanoDiamond materials for use as thermal fillers in thermoplastics. Applications include electronics products, electronic packages, and LED lighting across a wide range of industries such as automotive, aerospace, and mobile devices."

These materials empower customers to manufacture nanocomposite materials with improved or unique properties. Applications for uDiamond NanoDiamonds include nanodiamond enhanced nickel and chromium plating, wear resistant/ low friction polymer coatings, and thermally conductive or high strength polymers and composites.