Columbus, Ohio (April 30, 2012) – The world’s first molecular nanotechnology company, Zyvex Technologies, and ENVE Composites announced an exclusive partnership to provide a bicycle rim specifically for downhill mountain biking that uses the latest advanced materials comprised of nano-enhanced carbon fiber. This new bicycle rim gives a significant competitive advantage to the downhill cycling market as proven during the last year in development and testing. The ENVE DH rim provides performance benefits to all downhill cyclists including those that compete at the highest levels of World Cup racing.

ENVE used Zyvex Technologies’ nano-enhanced carbon fiber technology called Arovex, which is a carbon nanotube and graphene engineered composite material that uses the proprietary Kentera technology to create chemical bonds on the carbon nanotubes. It provides an advantage in toughness without compromising strength. It also protects from fracture damage.  ENVE has an exclusive license for this advanced technology for cycling applications.

ENVE developed the first nano-enhanced carbon fiber downhill bike with the intention of its riders winning a World Cup. After being in development for over a year, the rim carried ENVE sponsored rider Greg Minnaar (see photo) to victory at the 2012 World Cup opener in South Africa.

“The ENVE-Zyvex partnership introduces the first carbon fiber rim specifically designed for the downhill cyclist. During development and testing the wheels have won over 50 podiums in competitions around the world. These results validate ENVE’s success using Zyvex’s Arovex. Downhill racing is extreme in nature. The fact that these new rims have survived the most challenging tracks in the world make them truly one-of-a-kind,” noted Jason Schiers, founder of ENVE Composites.

Most notable is an unprecedented increase in durability, strength, and stiffness over traditional alloy offerings on the market.  Often, top level teams will need to change rims more than 180 times during a season.  World Cup downhill racing champion Steve Peat raced on one pair of the ENVE DH wheels during the entire 2011 season. Traditional aluminum rims historically lasted him a mere one to three runs.

“Nano-enhanced carbon fiber wheels are changing what people expect from a bike’s ride quality. Being the first nano-enhanced carbon fiber downhill clincher to win a World Cup is difficult. We are changing the game. The new DH rims are the best riding and the most durable rims on the market today,” concluded Schiers.

The new rim design shows significant technical and competitive advantages in this demanding market.

Some scientists believe the ability to move and combine individual atoms and molecules will revolutionize the production of every human-made object leading to a potential new technology revolution.

“The use of carbon atoms in the 21^st century will be as significant as the use of silicon in the 20th century. Zyvex Technologies is the first company to globally commercialize nano-enhanced products from carbon atoms,” said Lance Criscuolo, president of Zyvex Technologies. “The value of building a $40-billion supply chain in less than four years means that partners like Composites One convey these advances to companies like ENVE that are constantly innovating products. Our advanced materials weigh less and have increased strength. We are changing the way products are manufactured and perform,” said Criscuolo.

About Zyvex Technologies:

Zyvex Technologies unlocks the power of carbon nanomaterials. Headquartered in Columbus, OH, with facilities in Texas, South Dakota, and Washington, Zyvex Technologies was the first company to bring nano-enhanced products to the marketplace. Its commercially proven technology makes products stronger, lighter, tougher, more fuel efficient and more electrically conductive.

Visit zyvextech.com. On Twitter, follow @ZyvexTech.

About Enve Composites:

Located in Ogden, Utah, Enve Composites is a manufacturer of handmade carbon fiber bicycle rims and components.  Enve is a company made up of passionate cyclists who have created a unique brand and complete product offering based on a riding lifestyle.  Enve employees have innovated and designed some of the world’s most respected products in the bicycle industry. Combined, Enve has over 30 years of carbon and bicycle engineering experience and designs, engineers and manufactures 100% of its rims in America.

Visit www.enve.com and follow us on Facebook (ENVE) and Twitter @envecomposites.

Zyvex Technologies – ZyMER from zyvex technologies on Vimeo.

Columbus, Ohio & Tokyo - February 14, 2012 – In its continued focus to utilize carbon nanomaterials to revolutionize advanced materials, Zyvex Technologies announced today, at Nanotech 2012 in Tokyo, the introduction of its advanced rubber technology, Zyvex Molecularly Engineered Rubber or ZyMER®.

ZyMER is a distinct nano-engineered rubber technology using chemistry that allows carbon nanotubes to be inserted inside a rubber compound for added strength and improved conductive properties of elastomers. After six years of researching, developing, and refining manufacturing processes with companies such as APV Engineered Coatings®, and also one of the largest providers of products and services to the energy industry, results demonstrate ZyMER to be highly effective in manufacturing environments for industrial applications, such as gaskets and belts. Other customer collaboration efforts are focused on additional rubber products, such as improved efficiency for tires in the automotive market.

Industry currently has a limited set of tools to enhance the mechanical or electrical properties of rubber compounds. Traditional additives, such as carbon black or silver, cannot provide improved mechanical or electrical properties without reducing the elastic properties that make rubber desirable. Using ZyMER, engineers, designers and manufacturers do not have to compromise when developing stronger or more conductive rubber formulations. Using three rubber compounds –SBR, NBR, and FKM (flouroelastomers) — results demonstrate (depending on the loading level of ZyMER):

• Surface resistivity of 10(6) – 10(7) ohms/sq
• Tear strength improvements of 30-40%
• Tensile modulus (stiffness) improvements of 50-60%

The industry is evolving to help improve manufacturing outputs as products are upgraded. Long term, industrial engineers and designers can benefit from access to nanomaterials in the products they develop. Two-thirds of the world’s rubber is synthetic. Synthetic rubber’s increased adoption is from developments that make the production more efficient, less costly, and with less pollution to the environment.¹

“If we as a manufacturer can significantly increase our customers’ assembly line speed, reduce maintenance costs and increase the performance of rubber products, we can revolutionize an age-old industry,” said Michael Phillips, plant manager, APV Engineered Coatings. “If production can be increased as a direct result of stronger, more conductive rubber, while enhancing the performance of the end-product, the industry is going to make monumental strides. We’re confident our customers will experience all of these benefits when using nano-enhanced technology,” noted Phillips.

“Zyvex is widely recognized as the first nanotechnology venture.  The company and its spin-offs have pioneered the development of a wide range of innovations including a family of nanomaterials that are now well established in the supply chain for nano-enabled products,” said Michael Tomczyk, the managing director for the Mack Center of Technological Innovation at the Wharton School, University of Pennsylvania.

Mike Nemeth, director commercial and defense applications for Zyvex Technologies, said, “When you start to engineer materials at the atomic level like we do, a whole realm of possibilities opens up. We are excited to be the first to commercialize molecularly engineered rubber that allows our customers to easily take advantage of the properties of carbon nanomaterials.”

The American rubber industry has become the largest and the most technologically advanced in the world.² The automotive market, rubber’s largest consumer, has become a big proponent in using renewable-based materials – not only for tires, but also for other auto components.³ According to the Rubber Manufacturers Association, U.S. tire shipments increased 10 percent in 2010. Tires are losing the commodity label, as greater emphasis is made on branding and major innovations in rubber.

Nemeth added, “With its versatility, ZyMER is available for a variety of compounds—offering clear flexibility within a vast amount of industries. Specific customer formulations are being developed for other portions of the market, such as butyl rubber.” Industry leaders are contacting Zyvex to discuss applications for ZyMER additives that have already been developed and also for custom formulation development.

Trends and legislation in the tire industry that have fueled innovations in the polymer industry are⁴:

• Usage of lightweight materials
• Tire durability and performance
• Tire-labeling and rolling resistance legislation
• The “Go green” theme that has brought eco-friendly materials to the forefront.

About Zyvex Technologies

Zyvex Technologies unlocks the power of carbon nanomaterials. Headquartered in Columbus, OH, with facilities in Texas, South Dakota, and Washington, Zyvex Technologies was the first company to bring nano-enhanced products to the marketplace. Their commercially proven technology makes products stronger, lighter, tougher and more electrically conductive. Visit booth E-36 at Nanotech 2012 in Tokyo or www.zyvextech.com to learn more.

New Division Ships First Production Nano-Composite Vessel

Columbus, Ohio and Seattle, Wash., – November 1, 2011 – Zyvex Technologies announced today that it has launched a new division, Zyvex Marine. The new division’s mission is to design and build the most advanced maritime platforms in the world. Zyvex Marine shipped its first production boat, a lightweight 54’ vessel, this month.

In early 2009, the world’s first commercialized carbon nanotube enhanced (CNTe) carbon fiber material, Arovex, enabled the design of a prototype vessel called the 540SE. Setting new standards for fuel efficiency and performance, the lightweight 540SE hull offered a 75% reduction in fuel consumption costs, translating to increased range and lower operating costs.

In 2010, Zyvex manufactured its first prototype craft, the Piranha, taking it from the drawing board and into the water in under one year. Setting new standards in range, speed, sea keeping and payload, the Piranha is a generational leap beyond boats built out of traditional materials like fiberglass or aluminum.

Please click here to read the full Press Release.