Europe. Bayer MaterialScience's Baytubes carbon nanotubes will be used to prevent fuel tank explosions within an innovative safety technology.Bayer MaterialScience AG and Hirtenberger PROSAFE Safety Technology GmbH (HPST) entered into a global cooperation agreement and a distribution contract for Baytubes carbon nanotubes, which will be used in the manufacture of spheres designed to prevent the formation of explosive gas mixtures that would lodge in fuel tanks.
Safeballs are hollow spheres that are inserted into a tank to fill it completely and in the face of the low volume loss of 8.5% inside the tank, the system presents considerable advantages, since it not only prevents a mixture of explosive gas with air, but also allows the tank to breathe, so that significantly smaller amounts of hydrocarbons are released into the environment. In this way, the areas can also make a significant contribution to the protection of the environment in the future.
These spheres are easily aspirated and can be reintroduced into the tanks once the maintenance tasks are completed, these elements are treated with fungicidal and antibacterial substances.
