The processing of special compounds developed by Lati with microextrusion systems recently developed by Gimac has resulted in the creation of an extruded yarn with electroconductive properties. In detail, a PA 12-based compound containing carbon nanotubes was used to obtain a thread with a thickness of less than two tenths of a millimetre.
Carbon nanotubes homogeneously dispersed in the polymeric matrix confer uniform electrical properties on the yarn, which has been found to show a resistance of around 8 k ohm (kΩ) per centimetre. This value can vary depending on the quantity of nanotubes and the processing parameters used. Because there are no clusters of carbon nanotubes, which would make the polymer matrix uneven, the yarn is flexible and has good tensile strength. Together, these characteristics make it suitable for use in a number of sectors, from the automotive sector and medical sector to the fields of electronics and mechatronics.