Abstract: The invention relates to additives for enhancing the electrical conductivity and physical and mechanical properties of rubber compounds, including, inter alia, the elastic modulus, tensile strength, tear resistance and abrasion resistance of composite elastomer-based materials (rubbers), and to composite elastomer-based materials (rubbers). The invention proposes an additive containing from 1 to 20 wt % carbon nanotubes, from 3 to 90 wt % high-viscosity organic rubber, and from 8 to 95 wt % low-molecular-weight organic dispersion medium. The present invention also proposes a method for producing the additive.

Abstract: The invention solves the problem of creating a rubber composition that can be used in a solid tyre of an extremely simple and manufacturable design to provide safe and hygienic operation of the tyre without accumulating a static electric charge and without leaving black marks on a floor surface. An electrically conductive rubber composition for non-marking solid tyres is proposed, which composition comprises (1) a rubber or a mixture of at least two rubbers, (2) oxide fillers and modifiers, (3) organic plasticisers and modifiers, (4) a curing system and (5) carbon nanotubes, wherein the total amount of carbon nanotubes and carbon of other allotropic modifications constitutes from 0.05 to 1.5 wt % relative to the amount of rubber. A non-marking solid tyre made from the electrically conductive rubber composition is also proposed.

Abstract: A method for producing nanostructured carbon material, including (a) combusting hydrocarbon fuel in an oxygen-enriched environment to produce combustion products having a temperature of 1,000-3,150° C.; (b) forming a postcombustion gas stream having a velocity of 40-800 m/s; (c) forming a working mixture by introducing hydrocarbon feedstock and a catalyst precursor for carbon nanostructures growth into the postcombustion gas stream; (d) introducing the working mixture into a reaction zone, wherein the reaction zone is maintained at a temperature of 900-2,300° C., and wherein the catalyst precursor is decomposed into catalyst particles, while the hydrocarbon feedstock is decomposed to form carbon nanostructures and gaseous products; and (e) separating carbon nanostructures from the gaseous products of the decomposition of hydrocarbon feedstock.

Abstract: A metal foil has a surface with an added conductive layer comprising carbon nanotubes, wherein the conductive layer is applied so that the carbon nanotubes are arranged on the foil surface randomly and in an amount of 100 ng/cm2-10 ?g/cm2. A method for manufacturing the metal foil with a conductive layer of carbon nanotubes includes mixing carbon nanotubes with a solvent to form a suspension, applying the resulting suspension onto the metal foil surface so that the amount of carbon nanotubes on the surface is 100 ng/cm2-10 ?g/cm2 and they are arranged randomly, and then drying the suspension.

Abstract: A method of producing carbon nanotubes, comprising, in a reaction chamber: evaporating at least a partially melted electrode comprising a catalyst by an electrical arc discharge; condensing the evaporated catalyst vapors to form nanoparticles comprising the catalyst; and decomposing gaseous hydrocarbons in the presence of the nanoparticles to form carbon nanotubes on the surface of the nanoparticles. Also a system for producing carbon nanotubes, comprising: a reactor comprising two electrodes, wherein at least one of the electrodes is at least a partially melted electrode comprising a catalyst, the reactor adapted for evaporating the at least partially melted electrode by an electrical arc discharge and for condensing its vapors to form nanoparticles comprising the catalyst, wherein the electrodes are disposed in a reaction chamber for decomposing gaseous hydrocarbons in the presence of the nanoparticles to form carbon nanotubes on the surface of the nanoparticles.