Nawa Technologies’ Carbon Nanotube Technology: Nawastitch

Nawa Technologies has developed a carbon nanotube technology called Nawastitch, which strengthens traditional carbon fiber by up to 900% while reducing weight by 20-30%. The material is already in use in sports bicycle wheel rims, and it is being developed for use in EV battery casings and hydrogen storage tanks for fuel cell vehicles. Additionally, the electrical conductivity of the material can be used to turn casings into an integral heating element, reducing the complexity of battery thermal management systems.

What are Vertical Aligned Carbon Nanotubes (VACNT)?

Vertical aligned carbon nanotubes (VACNT) are grown on a thin underlying layer (substrate) and reach a height of between five and 100 microns. They resemble a molecular-scale forest of around 100 billion tubes per square centimeter. VACNTs make a good basis for the anode of lithium-ion and other battery chemistries.

How Does Nawastitch Work?

Carbon fiber components consist of layers of woven carbon fiber fabric laminated together in layers using resin. A weakness is when the resin breaks due to impact damage or vibration, and cracks form across those layers. Adding a layer of Nawastitch between the layers of carbon fiber mat ties them together, providing extra strength. In practice, the nanotube layer is a thin film that can be handled in the same way as carbon fiber mat during manufacturing of components. Because it’s so thin, its weight is insignificant but it reduces the amount of carbon fiber and resin needed while also increasing the strength.

Applications of Nawastitch

Nawastitch is being developed to replace the aluminum base and plastic superstructure of EV battery casings to make them stronger but lighter. Because the tubes are aligned vertically, there’s an electrical resistance across them horizontally, so if a current is passed through them, the material becomes a heating element. The aim is to use that property to help manage battery temperature and potentially improve the range of EVs.

Nawastitch is also being used to make lighter and stronger compressed hydrogen storage tanks for fuel cell and hydrogen ICE vehicles. Tanks are at the lab testing stage now and are expected to be available to customers in 2024.

Nawa is also developing the use of its VACNT technology in hydrogen fuel cells as a base for the platinum catalyst material. The nanotubes lock the particles in position, preventing them from clumping together over time, increasing the power and life of fuel cells by a factor of five.

Conclusion

Nawa Technologies’ Nawastitch is a carbon nanotube technology that strengthens traditional carbon fiber by up to 900% while reducing weight by 20-30%. Its versatility makes it useful in various applications, including sports bicycle wheel rims, EV battery casings, hydrogen storage tanks for fuel cell vehicles, and fuel cells. Furthermore, the electrical conductivity of the material can be used to turn casings into an integral heating element, reducing the complexity of battery thermal management systems. With its potential to improve the range of EVs and increase the power and life of fuel cells, Nawa Technologies’ Nawastitch is a promising technology for a more sustainable future.