i-minerals declared it has signed a two section consulting deal with DURTEC.
The first section of the deal includes an in-detail market study that predicts conventional uses of halloysite as well as future markets at the R & D stage that depends on the distinct properties of the halloysite’s tubular shape with nano-scale dimensions.
Halloysite, also known as Halloyste Nano Tubes (HNT), can be suitable for a wide range of applications in order to enhance the product’s performance.
Some of the applications where Halloysite is used include functional fillers for plastics, paper, and paints in biomass cleaning and as a mineral absorber for gas or air treatment. It will also be used as an agent for time release in life science applications including pharmaceuticals, cosmetics, animal feed, and medical equipment.
After the research stage of the agreement is completed, DURTEC will conduct a laboratory research to test halloysite from i-minerals in a few applications recognized during the first phase. The initial tests conducted by DURTEC showed that the halloysite from i-minerals featured very low levels of chosen trace elements of four tested halloysite-based products and high aspect ratio, which is the ratio of nanotubes length to its diameter. With advantages such as high aspect ratio and low trace elements, the high-grade halloysite product may offer strong benefits in high-value applications.