Global material solutions provider Huntsman Corporation has announced it will collaborate with Advanced Material Development Ltd (AMD), a leading nanomaterials business, through a strategic relationship to develop carbon nanotube-integrated functional composite materials in the United States.

The collaboration will allow for the development of electrically enhanced materials by integrating AMD’s all-carbon technology into Huntsman’s resin systems to provide superior performance composites for the Defense and Aerospace industry.

Richard Lee, Chief Commercial Officer of AMD said, “We are delighted that Huntsman, a global leader in resin composite technology, has chosen AMD to help lead in the development of these essential new materials. Our Texas-based operation looks forward to providing the highest performing composite materials for applications across the Cleantech, Defense and Aerospace industries.”

Huntsman’s senior technical leadership will be working with AMD’s teams affiliated with Rice University in Houston, Texas, and the University of Sussex in the United Kingdom, to develop product solutions that are both cost-effective and reliable.

“This relationship brings together some of the best learnings in advanced carbon technology,” said John Fraser, Commercial Director of MIRALON® for Huntsman Corporation. “AMD’s work in next-generation carbon-fiber materials plus the expertise through Rice University’s Carbon Hub, along with Huntsman’s knowledge and capabilities with composites and carbon nanotube materials, create a fantastic opportunity for collaboration and progress.”

This progress will be aided by the timely sabbatical of Professor Alan Dalton, who is Chief Scientific Advisor at AMD and Chair of Material Physics at Sussex University. Dalton’s sabbatical will be spent at Rice University, allowing close proximity to Huntsman’s operations.

“Being based in Texas allows me to work more closely with both Huntsman and AMD, facilitating faster and more effective progress,” said Dalton. “This proximity is key in accelerating the development of these cutting-edge composites for applications ranging from wind turbines to aerospace structures and enables us to leverage the combined expertise of the teams at Rice and Sussex.”

Paul Cherukuri, Chief Innovation Officer and Vice President for Innovation at Rice University added, “We are thrilled to support this important collaboration between Huntsman and AMD. By combining Huntsman’s expertise in composites with AMD’s advanced carbon technology, this partnership highlights Houston’s role as a growing center for material science innovation. We look forward to seeing the positive advancements this collaboration will bring to industries like aerospace and defense.”