eden energy's technical breakthrough

Wednesday, November 09, 2011

http://www.proactiveinvestors.com.au/companies/news/21807/eden-energys-technical-breakthrough-boosts-concrete-strengthening-opportunities-21807.html


Eden Energy (ASX: EDE) has refined its existing technology to produce a concrete-strengthening product that is even stronger with better reinforcing properties, which could be a major boon for the company's aspirations.

Eden, through U.S. subsidiary Hythane Company, produces carbon nanotubes and nanofibers that can be added to concrete and other products to increase flexural strength, and used in electrical applications due to its conductive qualities.

In a big step for the company, Hythane has successfully produced high-quality multi-wall carbon nanotubes, which feature higher strength and better conductivity than industrial-grade carbon nanotubes.

In addition, the refined nanotubes hold together better during dispersion and maintain the ratio of length to width, offering greater levels of reinforcement as well as allowing for lower loadings for electrical conductivity.

Eden managing director Greg Solomon told Proactive Investors today: “Our industrial grade is at the high quality of industrial grade, our purity is plus-95%, but it’s really the strength of the tubes themselves that makes a difference.

“What they will potentially offer us is an opportunity to improve the performances.”

Importantly, Eden will be able to manufacture these refined nanotubes in the order of tons per year, which complements the existing process used to create large quantities of industrial grade nanotubes.

Solomon told Proactive Investors the company plans to trial the refined nanotubes over coming months, to determine the production capacity and costs, as well as the benefits of using this product in various markets.

“It will be a case of essentially retrying all the various experiments in conjunction with industry partners or industry customers at least, to see what level of benefit you get,” Solomon said.

“If, for arguments sake, we can produce these at the same rate just by a slight modification of our procedures, we may just simply switch over and only start producing the higher grade.

“If there’s no difference in our production costs and we have a product that commands a higher price, there may be a better profit margin.”

Eden is already on its way to achieving commercial production of its industrial grade nanotubes in 2012, with testing of the product in reinforcing products such as concrete giving strong results.

With the potential to reduce material requirements and costs for the construction sector, Eden hopes the concrete market will become a major part of its customer base.

These refined nanotubes increase Eden’s product range and allow the company to explore more opportunities with a wider range of companies and applications.

The company’s existing industrial-grade nanotube technology has actual or potential applications in areas such as concrete and rubber reinforcement, as well as conductive plastics and paints or coatings and in batteries.