OPM introduces Pleximer-based nanocomposite

NaturalNano (OTCBB: NNAN) (FWB: N3N), and Oxford Performance Materials (OPM), announced that the companies have signed an exclusive joint development and supply agreement.  Within the scope of the agreement, OPM and NaturalNano will work to develop products, applications and markets for the combination of OPM’s OXPEKK® and NaturalNano’s state-of-the-art Pleximer™ technology.

This new class of high-performance thermoplastics, OXPEKK-DRT, is expected to significantly improve the processing and mechanical properties of OXPEKK, while increasing the range of potential applications for current OXPEKK materials.  Under the agreement, NaturalNano will purchase certain polyketone polymers exclusively from OPM and, using its Pleximer technology, produce polyketone-halloysite compounds which it will sell exclusively to OPM.

“Our work with NaturalNano has yielded some of the most significant products in the history of our company,” said Scott DeFelice, President and CEO of OPM.  “The affinity of our polymer-to-nano-phase fillers has been well known to us for years, though the challenge has always been finding highly reliable and dispersible nano-scale additives.  The unique properties of halloysite in NaturalNano’s Pleximer product have solved this problem for us.”

“I am very excited about using our Pleximer technology in Oxford’s OXPEKK,” said Cathy Fleischer, PhD, President and CTO of NaturalNano.  “We believe by combining our leading products, we can bring stronger, lighter and less expensive properties to the users of high-value polyketone polymers.”

OPM’s OXPEKK products are specified on the Boeing 787 aircraft.  The Boeing 787 aircraft has been slated to contain as much as 50% advance polymer composites in its primary structure, and has been scheduled to enter service in the third quarter of 2009.  OXPEKK-DRT polymer products will initially be marketed to OPM’s core customers in the energy management, aerospace, electronics and medical markets.  Existing high performance polymer users in need of additional performance will be a target market for these materials.  OXPEKK-DRT materials can be either injection molded or extruded, enabling a broad range of applications.
 
About NaturalNano
NaturalNano, Inc. (www.naturalnano.com) (OTCBB: NNAN) (FWB: N3N) is a materials science company focused on developing and commercializing advanced nanocomposites and extended release nanotechnologies.  Based in Rochester, NY, the Company is focused on additive technologies and processes, including its proprietary Pleximer™ polymer additive, that add value to industrial polymers, plastics and composites, as well as consumer and industrial products.  NaturalNano holds and licenses over 25 patents and applications, as well as proprietary know-how for extraction and separation processes, compositions, and derivatives of Halloysite and other nanotubes.  For more information, visit http://www.naturalnano.com

About OPM
Founded in March 2000, OPM has rapidly become an industry leader in the ultra-high performance thermoplastic polymers market. The firm's versatile OXPEKK® polymers are currently being used in space and defense, medical, semiconductor and industrial markets worldwide. For additional information, please visit www.oxfordpm.com .