ApNano Materials, Inc., a provider of nanotechnology-based products, today announced that its NanoLub lubricant, the world’s first commercial nanotechnology-based solid lubricant, was found to be non-toxic in testing performed by Harlan Biotech Israel Ltd., an accredited testing laboratory for pharmacological toxicity studies, located in Rehovot, Israel. These tests are in addition to excellent results obtained from field and beta site tests performed by major global lubricants and automotive manufacturers.
"Harlan Biotech is certified to be in complete compliance with international standards of the OECD (Organization for Economic Co-Operation and Development). The acute toxicity testing was done in full accordance with European Commission directives for Good Laboratory Practice (GLP)," said Dr. Niles Fleischer, Vice President of Business Development and Product Development of ApNano Materials. “The lab results recognize the environmental friendly nature of NanoLub.”
“The findings show that NanoLub is safe and using this revolutionary material as a solid or dry lubricant to replace common liquid lubricants or as an additive to enhance the performance of regular lubricants is not only extremely beneficial but also not harmful," said Dr. Menachem Genut, President and CEO of ApNano Materials. “There is always a concern when new materials are introduced to the industry, especially these days with regards to the use of nanotechnology based materials. We are glad that our material was clearly shown to be non-toxic and can be used in a variety of applications."
Genut added that “using NanoLub enhances the performance of moving parts e.g. in gear boxes, transmission systems and axles. This will significantly reduce the fuel consumption which will lead to less air pollution. Furthermore, NanoLub can replace current used additives to oils and greases which some are very toxic, which due to health regulation are about to be banned in many countries. In addition, the laboratory’s findings open new horizons for NanoLub in medical applications.”
“The non toxicity confirmation is great news as it guarantees that the production of NanoLub in our planned semi-industrial facility, to be built shortly following the successful completion of our recent $6 million fundraising, will produce an environmentally friendly material,” said Aharon Feuerstein, ApNano Materials’ Chairman of the Board. The new plant will produce 150 kg a day of NanoLub.
NanoLub is based on nano-spheres and nanotubes of inorganic compounds that were discovered at the Weizmann Institute of Science, Israel. NanoLub particles have a unique structure of nested spheres that lubricate by a special mechanism that can be considered as the rolling of millions of miniature ball bearings, thus greatly reducing friction and wear.
Dr. Menachem Genut was a co- discoverer of these novel inorganic nanostructures as a member of the Institute’s Nanomaterials Synthesis Group headed by Professor Reshef Tenne.
Recently ApNano Materials has been selected as a Top 100 Innovator by Red Herring and has been named by InnovationWORLD as one of the 21 companies that are poised for growth in the 21st century.
http://www.apnano.com
Posted 8th April 2005
