However, the men found that a 3×6 or 4×8 sheet material they were producing was more valuable, being electrical and thermally conductive, similar to a nonwoven composite. “Right now, EMI shielding panels are a huge market within aerospace,” says Antoinette. “We’re also working with the Army on a type of body armor. With a 2 millimeter-thick sheet, we can stop a bullet. However, it’s tough to implement until we get to a larger scale. We’ve recently moved from research to qualification and our next step is to move into a plant where we can turn-up the production scale.”
For such a small, upstart company, Nanocomp is finding success. “We go to targeted conferences in order to get in front of industry representatives,” explains Antoinette. “We found ways to make our story appealing from the get-go. I look at it like speed dating: I get five minutes to give a pitch and if they like it, I get another meeting. It’s incremental, but it’s working.”
