TESLAN®
Teslan®

Tesla's initial product offering is marketed under brand name Teslan®. Tesla's initial product platform is a complete line of 2-coat protective coatings for protection of steel. The 2- coat system consists of a primer and a topcoat. The primer is a 2-part (resin + catalyst) solvent containing fullerene carbon nanotechnology. The primer is currently available in two formulations -Military specification compliant formulation and low volatile organic compound formulation. Topcoat which is applied on top of primer is currently available is 3-different formulations -epoxy topcoat, polyurethane topcoat or the polyaspartic topcoat. The materials are all packaged in premeasured kits for easy handling and mixing.

Teslan® patented technology utilizes carbon in the form of fullerene carbon nanotubes. Fullerene carbon nanotubes are a unique form of carbon with a cylindrical nanostructure and the ends of a nanotube are capped with a hemisphere of the buck ball structure. These carbon nanotubes self-assemble into rope structures which are highly conductive, tough and flexible. Fullerene carbon nanotubes greatly improve the physical properties of the coating system and endow them with exceptionally high material properties such as electrical and thermal conductivity, strength, stiffness, and toughness. The fullerene nanotubes form a network of carbon nanotube ropes which strengthen and stiffen the coating film and improve fatigue life by over 400%. Crack initiation and propagation is essentially stopped. Any crack that may form cannot propagate around or through the remarkably strong and stiff nanotube ropes. The coating is strong, stable, impermeable, and does not require an intermediate coating to stabilize a fragile primer. The electrical properties of the fullerene nanotubes enables the coatings to overcome a basic problem associated with organic coatings; they are non-conductive. The nanotubes provide a highly conductive quantum nanowire path through the resin.

The primer also contains small quantities of sacrificial metal which enables cathodic protection. In the event that the strong coating from carbon nanotubes is broken, a cathodic potential is established by sacrificial metals. Electrons are transferred from the optimized amount of sacrificial metal through the resin system to the metal substrate. As long as the electrons arrive at the defect site as fast as oxygen; no corrosion occurs.

The unique physical and cathodic properties of these coatings lend themselves to increased life-cycles and reduced costs. The technology purpose is two-fold. First, produce the toughest most resilient barrier coating. Second, in the inevitable event of a coating defect, shift the potential of the environment to a less corrosive cathodic potential.

Tesla possesses a portfolio of intellectual property with regard to coating technology consisting of 11- licensed U.S. patents; 2-patents pending; 1-provisional patent; 2- trademarks; and several trade secrets which provide Tesla with a competitive advantage into both target and horizon markets. The coatings are currently developed by Tesla with almost unlimited production capacity accomplished via contract manufacturing.

Tesla has a list of derivative product developments for corrosion control as well as adjacent and horizon markets. One such new product under development is a carbon nanotube based non-chromate corrosion control coating for aluminum.