ZEON

Zeon Corporation is a chemical manufacturer headquartered in Tokyo, Japan. It was established in 1950 as a manufacturer of vinyl chloride resin through a capital tie-up and technology between The Yokohama Rubber Co., Ltd., Furukawa Electric Co., Ltd., Nippon Light Metal Company, Ltd. and US BF Goodrich Chemical Company. Currently, it mainly manufactures and sells synthetic rubber, synthetic latex, specialty plastics, and optical films. It has 61 group companies around the world and is globally active. In recent years, we have developed many original products such as synthetic aromas, polymerized toner, and eco-friendly etching gas. The carbon nanotube developed by using a novel synthesis method called the super-growth method is among those products and we started manufacturing and selling it in 2016.

The super-growth method for single-walled carbon nanotube (SWCNT) synthesis was discovered in 2004 by Dr. Kenji Hata of the National Institute of Advanced Industrial Science and Technology (AIST) of Japan. This method enables it to produce a high-quality SWCNT that leads to a significant reduction in manufacturing costs. Our work has progressed on commercialization of this technology with the support of the Ministry of Economy, Trade and Industry (METI) and the New Energy and Industrial Technology Development Organization (NEDO). Zeon Corporation developed mass production technology by further improving the super-growth method and started commercial production in 2016 under the brand name ZEONANO®.

ZEONANO® has the characteristics of high aspect ratio, high purity, and high specific surface area. By compounding with metal, rubber, resin, etc., it is possible to develop applied products with new functions. ZEONANO® is being applied to electronics fields such as next-generation devices, advanced materials such as high-performance rubber materials and high thermal conductive materials, and structural materials fields.

Zeon Corporation is collaborating with domestic and overseas research institutes to advance the impact assessment on the human and environment by the super-growth method, and making the best efforts to research the safe handling of carbon nanotubes and applied products. We carry out voluntary safety management initiatives in concert with our customers, national institutions, and local governments around the world.