Additive and carbon black manufacturer Cabot (Boston, Massachusetts / USA; www.cabot-corp.com) has expanded its range of speciality carbon solutions with the new “Athlos” carbon nanostructures, a family of materials consisting of cross-linked carbon nanotubes. According to Cabot, Athlos enables an optimal balance of electromagnetic interference (EMI) shielding, conductivity, mechanical strength and processability, making it suitable for high-performance plastics applications.

Compared to other carbon additives, Athlos is said to deliver better EMI shielding performance. It enables lightweighting solutions by replacing or reducing the loading of traditional metal-based alternatives. Athlos also improves industrial hygiene compared to other conductive carbon additives by reducing dust contamination during processing.