Genoa Racing Team and Zyvex Performance Materials Put Carbon Nanotubes to the Test on the Track
Epovex Adhesive, strengthened with nanotechnology, sees first use in 2010 American Le Mans Series
Columbus, OH, April 12, 2010— When Genoa Racing’s bright red No. 36 car spun and hit a guardrail during a March practice session at Florida’s Sebring International Raceway, carbon nanotube adhesives had their first opportunity to demonstrate their usefulness in high performance automotive racing. The composite carbon fiber car needed substantial repair and the team turned to Zyvex Performance Materials to use their carbon nanotube enhanced Epovex Adhesive. After missing only one day for repairs, Genoa was back on the track — and on top of the class standings.
Chris Oldham is responsible for composite materials for the Genoa team. “In layman’s terms, Epovex is a structural adhesive for carbon fiber,” said Oldham. The repairs were able to be made on-site inside the track as opposed to waiting for an entire new carbon fiber panel to arrive. The Genoa team went on to compete in the Mobil 1 Twelve Hours of Sebring presented by Fresh from Florida and are currently in third place in the American Le Mans Series standings.
Zyvex Performance Materials, which is based in Columbus, Ohio, was the first company to provide nano-enhanced products to the marketplace. Carbon nanotubes (CNTs) are among the strongest materials on earth, with a strength about 100 times that of steel at one-sixth the weight. “Applications of our nanotechnology in the automotive market coincide with a growing use of composite carbon fiber,” said Mike Nemeth, who works on commercial and defense applications at Zyvex Performance Materials. “Innovative teams like Genoa recognize that nanomaterials can help strengthen composite repairs.”
Although often associated with theoretical concepts, carbon nanotube enhanced materials have moved far beyond laboratory experiments. Lance Criscuolo, President at Zyvex Performance Materials, notes that 2010 has been off to an exciting start for all three lines of nano-products: Arovex prepreg, Epovex Epoxy, and Epovex Adhesive. “People hear ’nano’ and they think science fiction. So far this year, we’ve seen unmanned surface vessels built from nanotube strengthened carbon fiber, powerboats toughened with our nano-enhanced resins, and now race cars repaired with nano-strengthened adhesives. Genoa Racing saw the performance value that our materials deliver and we’re proud to be part of their success.”
For more information about Epovex or other carbon nanotube applications, please visit www.zyvexpro.com or contact info@zyvexpro.com
©Zyvex Performance Materials 2009