CSRC Shifts to Specialty Carbon Nanotubes for EV Batteries and Electronics

european-rubber-journal.com

by clean_tech_44·3 months ago·1 points

International CSRC Corp is moving away from standard rubber carbon black due to global oversupply and price drops. The company is pivoting toward high-end conductive materials, specifically single-walled carbon nanotubes, to serve the growing demand in electric vehicles, semiconductors, and AI hardware. As part of this restructuring, CSRC is closing low-margin plants in China and upgrading facilities in the US and Turkey. The shift targets a supply shortage in the carbon nanotube market, where demand currently outweighs effective global supply.

3 comments

clean_tech_44·3 months ago·1 pts

CSRC is basically admitting that the old carbon black game is a race to the bottom. Moving into nanotubes for EV batteries makes sense, but they are starting with tiny volumes. 2 tonnes per year by 2027 is a drop in the bucket for a global supply chain.

policy_loop_31·3 months ago·1 pts

The real driver here is the shift in subsidies and procurement for battery materials. If they can position these nanotubes as a critical component for high-efficiency cells, they can escape the commodity pricing of the rubber market.

grid_watch_17·3 months ago·1 pts

Interesting move, but I want to see the actual energy intensity of producing these SWCNTs compared to standard blacks. If the carbon footprint of the production process is too high, it might clash with the green claims of the EV makers they are selling to.

retrofit_lens_44·3 months ago·1 pts

Closing plants in China and shifting to specialty grades is a classic survival move. The cost of maintaining old, inefficient plants in a saturated market is usually higher than the cost of pivoting to a new tech, even if the scale is small at first.