Nanodiamonds (ND) due to their unique properties have been applied recently in wide range of technologies: wafers and optical crystals polishing, antifriction treatment reducing wear, diverse metallic and polymeric coatings, reinforcing plastics and elastomers, heat dissipation in electronics, fabrication of onion-like carbons for energy storage and EMI shielding, radiation resistant composites and diverse biomedical solutions (cancer treatment, early diagnostics and cell imaging). Most advanced applications require high purity and homogeneity of ND particles and their ability to be uniformly dispersed within various media. Novel technology for fabrication ND by laser treatment of specially prepared hydrocarbon targets has been developed and implemented in a laboratory scale.
Production of Advanced Nano-Diamond Additives (PANDA) and their implementation in industrial scale is actual challenge enabling breakthroughs in medicine, electronics, machinery & energy. Technological, practical and economic viability of RAY’s process scaling was investigated for the establishing industrial Production of Advanced Nano-Diamond Additives (PANDA).
Unique properties of diamond (hardness and wear resistance, the highest thermal conductivity combined with strong electrical insulation, outstanding optical and electronic properties, chemical and radiation resistance) and specific features of diamond nano-particles (tiny sizes defining high surface area and hybrid surface structure with various functional groups enabling interaction with diverse media and “transferring” them unique properties of diamond). ND applications include coatings, fine polishing, functional polymers and lubricants as well as scientific research for the development of new ND applications in medicine, neutron physics, energy and chemistry. The main problems limiting wide use of ND in industry are non-constant quality (particle size distribution and surface reactivity) and the absence of industrial technologies for ND disaggregation in various media. Therefore, despite highly promising investigation results and hundreds million euro spent for ND research (particularly, by numerous EU programs) the Global ND Market is still in its initial stage.
Unique ND properties can be exploited for the creation of new objects, materials and technologies in wide range of applications not existing yet. New efficient drugs & novel approaches for cancer and other diseases’ treatment, quantum computers & field emitters, efficient energy storage devices & new-generation power sources, nano-electronic & big air-space devices and other not-end opportunities.
The extensive market research and numerous discussions with potential consumers have leaded RAY to the key insight and defined the product offering as finished products, ready-to-use additive instead of raw ND required special treatment for disaggregation and uniform mixing within various media. PANDA Business Plan (BP) is aimed the manufacturing of products meeting Market demands: ND powders with a specially modified surface enabling homogeneous mixing some basic materials, ND slurries (stable suspensions based on various solvents) and masterbatches (highly concentrated ND composite with finely dispersed and disaggregated particles based on the same polymer to be improved).
This Feasibility Study and the successful completion of the tasks enables RAY to overcome the major risk factors inherent in the transition to the industrial fabrication of ND powder. Great technological breakthrough was reached in the optimization of the existing ND synthesis process and in the technology scaling. A new effective marketing strategy has been developed and tested in practice. Market analysis resulted in better understanding of business potential and attracting strategic partners, big potential consumers of RAY products. A realistic Business Plan was prepared for the submission project proposal for the Phase 2 of the project.
The performed feasibility study has determined the viability of the proposed business idea, - to establish industrial production of ND powders and ANDA.
