OCSiAl gets greenlight to build $333 million graphene nanotube plant

DIFFERDANGE, Luxembourg—Advance materials manufacturer OCSiAl has been granted approval by Luxembourg authorities for a graphene nanotubes production facility in Differdange, southwestern Luxembourg.

The $333 million (€300 million) facility, which includes an associated R&D center, is expected to be "the largest of its kind" and is scheduled for completion in 2025, OCSiAl announced Feb. 22.

OCSiAl did not provide further details on the production capacity of the facility, but the company had previously announced plans to build a 250-metric-ton unit in Luxembourg.

The company expects the new facility to enhance the geographic accessibility of graphene nanotubes to the growing automotive components market in Europe.

To be positioned between Belgium, France and Germany, the facility will allow OCSiAl to reduce logistics costs and work closely with car makers, chemical producers and tire manufacturers across Europe.

A graphene nanotube is a unique form of carbon that can be imagined as a graphene sheet, with a thickness of one atom, rolled into a tube.

Graphene nanotubes are very strong electrical conductors and are claimed to be "100 times stronger than steel but lighter than aluminum," according to OCSiAl.

OCSiAl nanotubes are currently widely used by rubber and plastics manufacturers to reach higher efficiencies for applications in the automotive, electronics, oil and gas, healthcare devices and other industries.

For instance, elastomers reinforced with the nanotubes can contribute to safety and energy-efficiency of tires.

In addition to tires, OCSiAl has recently co-developed a nanotube solution together with Daikin Industries to increase the durability and resistance to extreme conditions of fluoropolymer components.