Advanced carbons in plastics

Carbon nanotubes and graphene are the dominant in-scope additives in engineering plastics and thermoplastic compounds, providing electrical conductivity, mechanical reinforcement, improved flame retardancy and barrier enhancement at low loadings. In conductive and anti-static compounds, carbon nanotubes reach electrical percolation at 0.1 to 1% by weight, against 10 to 20% for carbon black, which preserves the mechanical and optical properties of the plastic. Carbon black itself is out of scope.

Short carbon fibre is the primary reinforcing filler in carbon fibre reinforced thermoplastics, giving high stiffness and strength to structural parts, with carbon-fibre-filled PEEK exceeding 200 megapascals tensile strength and widely used in automotive under-bonnet applications. Graphene nanoplatelets contribute flame retardancy by restricting oxygen diffusion and promoting char formation, and improve gas barrier in films. MXenes are emerging as functional fillers in specialty plastics for electromagnetic shielding and thermal management, reaching 50 to 70 decibels of shielding at thin sections.

The polymer nanocomposites market, covering carbon nanotube, graphene and other nanofillers, was valued at about $8.42 billion in 2024 and is growing at roughly 9.9% a year to 2034. Carbon nanotube nanocomposites are the largest segment at about 29% of that market, while graphene nanocomposites are growing faster, at around 11.5% a year. Commodity-grade graphene nanoplatelet prices had fallen below $80 per kilogram in China by 2025, supporting wider use in plastics.