The US Patent & Trademark Office (USPTA) has permitted materials science company, NaturalNano, a patent to safeguard the process for employing the company’s patented Halloysite Nanotubes (HNT) in synthesizing nanocomposites. This extends to heat-treated clays and polymers as well.
Halloysite Nanotubes
James Wemett, CEO of NaturalNano, stated that this claim was the second such claim from NaturalNano to be approved by the USPTA in the last 30 days and would serve to consolidate the company’s position in providing industrial applications for HNT. He also said that the company would continue its pursuit of identifying more and more commercial applications for HNT.
Halloysite Nanotubes are naturally occurring in the earth and composed of aluminum, silicon, hydrogen and oxygen. Formed over millions of years, these tiny tubes are of diameter less than 100 nm and length ranges from 500 nm to 1.2 µ. The functional properties of these nanotubes can be manipulated by choosing the tube of appropriate length and diameter.
NaturalNano works on separating the nanotubes and processes them for numerous commercial applications such as cosmetics, personal care products, electronic components and additives for plastics and polymers. The company already holds 20 patents pertaining to Halloysite applications. It also possesses proprietary expertise for extraction of HNT.