Following its exit from the carbon nanotube sector last year, Bayer MaterialScience (BMS) plans to sell proprietary intellectual property gained in the decade-long research cooperation to one of its former external partners, FutureCarbon, based at Bayreuth, Germany.

As leading provider of carbon-based composites, the Bayer sub-group said the young company will acquire the bulk of the related patents for an undisclosed sum.

The German plastics specialist's work in the field of carbon nanotubes in collaboration with partners focused on complex issues relating to safe production and methods for scaling up the production processes. Next-generation catalysts and new product grades were also developed.

BMS said much of the knowledge has been made available to other companies and research institutions within the Innovation Alliance for Carbon Nanotubes (Inno.CNT), which counts some 90 members.

"We are pleased that FutureCarbon, one of the partners from the Inno.CNT development network, will be carrying on our company's work," said Patrick Thomas, CEO of BMS. "We remain confident that the technology harbors tremendous potential, particularly for a renowned specialist company like FutureCarbon."

Walter Schütz, managing director of the Bayreuth firm, said the Bayer patents will expand its applications base substantially and open up new possibilities and business segments.