OCSiAl licenses graphene nanotube technology to latex glove maker

COLOMBO, Sri Lanka—OCSiAl has licensed its Tuball graphene nanotube technology to Sri Lankan conglomerate Hayleys P.L.C. to produce latex gloves.

Hayleys Aventura has installed a production line to manufacture latex dispersions incorporating the nanomaterial at its facility in Kaluthara, Sri Lanka, OCSiAl said in a June 29 press release. Intended for markets in south Asia and Europe, gloves made from the special latex meet electrostatic discharge (ESD) standards.

ESD-safety and touch screen-compatibility are increasing requirements for gloves used in industries such as automotive and electronics, said Jayanga Ileperuma, general manager of Hayleys Aventura. He said Graphene nanotubes could "revolutionize" the ESD glove sector due to the enhanced capability to dissipate static charges.

Hayleys Aventura has been distributing OCSiAl graphene nanotubes for rubber, latex and other polymer applications in Sri Lanka since 2017.

The company decided to open local manufacturing "to meet the growing market demand," said Ravi Mohan Dabral, director of business development EMEA.

Tuball latex is a water-based solution containing well-dispersed graphene nanotubes that can be applied to produce latex industrial gloves. In contrast to ammonium salts, which easily evaporate, graphene nanotubes provide "permanent and humidity-independent" electrical resistance, according to OCSiAl.

Furthermore, the nanotubes do not interfere with the dipping technology or the glove's performance, the company added.

According to OCSiAl, "extremely low working dosages" of the nanotubes, starting from just 0.06 percent, are sufficient to achieve electrical resistance below 1*10^8 ohms.