Materials company Bac2 has been granted patents for its low-cost electrically conductive polymer, trademarked ElectroPhen, that could be used in fuel cell applications.
Bac2 CEO Mike Stannard says it is “very rare” for a young, privately held company to be granted a basic materials patent.
“It’s testimony to the expertise and innovation of our development team, led by Dr Graham Murray, that we have been able to patent this remarkable new material. We are coming across a vast array of potential applications. We are focusing our business development efforts on the cleantech (clean technology) sector where the characteristics of ElectroPhen make it an ideal material for low-cost production of fuel cell components.”
Bac2 has discovered a way to make a phenolic polymer electrically conductive (Forkliftaction.com News #339). Phenolic polymers have been used as electrical insulators for over 100 years. Bac2 says ElectroPhen is different from other phenolic polymers. Water is removed from the ElectroPhen resin and replaced with a solvent compatible with the resin, allowing the introduction of dual-function catalysts to initiate the polymerisation of the resin and impart electro-active properties.
According to Bac2, ElectroPhen is one billion times more conductive than other polymers and its characteristics can be tailored to each application through adding graphite, metal powders, plasticisers and reinforcers.
The company has developed a way to delay the polymerisation process using a latent acid catalyst. This permits the pre-polymeric mixture to be transported and stored for several months, adding flexibility to the manufacturing process and reducing costs.
ElectroPhen’s inherent electrical conductivity makes it ideal for fuel cell and other energy storage device applications, for RF screening and static electricity protection, and for the manufacture of heating elements and heat sinks.
The patents cover Germany, France, Spain, Italy and the UK. Patent applications for the material are awaiting granting in Japan, Canada, the US, South Korea, India and China.
