What cti materials does

CTI Materials, operating commercially as Cheap Tubes, is a privately held U.S. nanomaterials supplier founded in 2005 by Mike Foley in Townshend, Vermont, with corporate headquarters in Grafton, VT. The company manufactures and distributes a broad catalog of carbon-based nanomaterials — including single-, double-, and multi-walled carbon nanotubes in diameters from 0.7 to 50+ nm, graphene nanoplatelets and oxide, CVD graphene films on Cu/PET/quartz/Si substrates, fullerenes (C60, C70), silver nanowires, and nano inks — to academic researchers, R&D engineers, battery and energy-storage developers, and industrial composites manufacturers across more than 6,000 institutions.

Its core proprietary technology is the Flexiphene platform: a patented, surfactant-free nanocarbon dispersion system protected by US Patents 10,049,783 and 11,961,630 B2, with a NASA Jet Propulsion Laboratory–validated formulation published in Electroanalysis (2020). The company complements Flexiphene with proprietary Dielectric Barrier Discharge functionalization for controlled surface chemistry and in-house silver nanowire synthesis via the polyol reduction method. Quantified performance claims include 100x lower electrical resistance, 96x higher capacitance, 95x more stable EMF drift, and ~82% fracture toughness gain in functionalized graphene/epoxy systems.

Commercial operations run through a self-serve e-commerce storefront (cheaptubes.com) carrying 100+ SKUs with published specifications, characterization data, and tiered per-gram and per-kilogram pricing for research and industrial buyers. Volume and custom formulation orders are handled via direct quote requests, and a dedicated Flexiphene sample program (NDA/MTA-gated, multi-year contract pricing on production quantities) operates at flexiphene.ctimaterials.com. The business is founder-owned and bootstrapped, with no disclosed external funding or institutional investors.

Name

cti materials

Legal name

Cheap Tubes Inc.

Website

https://ctimaterials.com

Company type

Private

Founded year

2005

Operating status

Operating

Short description

CTI Materials (dba Cheap Tubes) is a Vermont-based nanomaterials supplier founded in 2005, serving academic, government, and industrial customers with carbon nanotubes, graphene, fullerenes, nanowires, and patented Flexiphene surfactant-free dispersions validated by NASA JPL.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Advanced Nanomaterials

NAICS

Resin and Synthetic Rubber Manufacturing (32521), Research and Development in Nanotechnology (541713), Printing Ink Manufacturing (325910)

SIC

Miscellaneous Chemical Products (2890), Plastic Material, Synth Resin/Rubber, Cellulos (No Glass) (2820), Plastic Materials, Synth Resins & Nonvulcan Elastomers (2821)

akta.pro primary industry

Functional Carbon Fillers (Carbon Black, Graphite) (IMAEAFAO)

akta.pro secondary industries

Specialty Polymers & Resins (Engineered Materials) (IMAEABAK), Commodity Plastic Compounds (PE/PP/PS/PVC) (IMANABAA)

Keywords

• Carbon nanotubes
• Graphene materials
• Nanomaterials manufacturing
• Fullerene materials
• Nano inks

Headquarters

HQ city

Grafton

HQ country

United States

HQ region

North America

Offices3 records

Markets served

GTM type

B2B

Offering type

Hardware or Manufacturing

Cost components

Supply Chain, Personnel, Operations, Technology or R&D, Marketing or Sales

Revenue model

1. Nanomaterials Product Sales: Sale of research-grade and industrial-grade nanomaterials including carbon nanotubes, graphene products, fullerenes, nanowires, and related products. Products sold in various quantities from grams to kilograms with per-unit pricing. Standard catalog sales with volume discounts for larger quantities.
2. Proprietary Flexiphene Dispersions: Sale of patented Flexiphene surfactant-free nanocarbon dispersions. Includes ready-to-use liquid dispersions for electronics and polymer applications. Sample kits available (10mL) with production quantities ranging from 100g to multi-kilogram batches. Samples provided under NDA and MTA agreements.
3. CNT Masterbatches: Pre-compounded polymer pellets containing 10-20wt% carbon nanotubes dispersed in carrier polymers (ABS, PA6, PP, PC, PS, Epoxy). Sold as industrial intermediates for customers to dilute during their manufacturing processes.
4. Industrial CNT Composites: Conductive nanotube composite additives and bulk industrial CNT products for production-scale composite manufacturing. Sold by kilogram with volume-based pricing.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion2 records

Distribution channels4 records

Marketing channels6 records

Core offering

CTI Materials manufactures and distributes advanced carbon-based nanomaterials including single-walled and multi-walled carbon nanotubes, graphene nanoplatelets, graphene oxide, CVD graphene films, fullerenes, silver nanowires, and nano inks, sold in research-grade and industrial-grade quantities. The company also offers its patented Flexiphene surfactant-free nanocarbon dispersion technology platform, validated by NASA JPL, as ready-to-use dispersions and masterbatches for electronics, sensors, and polymer composite applications. Sales are conducted through an online catalog with direct quote handling for bulk and custom orders.

Product overview

CTI Materials (operating as CheapTubes.com) is a nanomaterials supplier serving research and industrial customers since 2005. The company offers a comprehensive portfolio of advanced carbon allotropes and nanocarbon materials organized around three core platforms: (1) Flexiphene nanocarbon dispersion technology — a patented, NASA-validated surfactant-free dispersion system protected by U.S. Patents 10,049,783 and 11,961,630 B2, offered as both SC-ISE formulations for electronics/sensors and PA 66 masterbatch for structural polymers; (2) a full spectrum of raw nanocarbon materials including multi-walled carbon nanotubes (MWCNTs) in 8nm to >50nm diameters with up to 99.9% purity, single/double-walled carbon nanotubes (SW/DWNTs) via CVD/arc/HiPco methods at 90-99%+ purity, graphene nanoplatelets in few-layer/multi-layer/thicker grades, CVD graphene films on various substrates (Cu, PET, Quartz, Si/SiO2), graphene oxide, fullerenes (C60/C70), and specialty variants including functionalized (COOH, OH, NH2, F), graphitized, short, helical, and array-form CNTs; and (3) industrial-scale products including carbon nanotube masterbatches in carrier polymers (ABS, PA6, PC, PP, PS, Epoxy), conductive composite additives for Li-ion batteries, nanowires (silver at 30nm), and nano inks. The Flexiphene brand serves as the proprietary dispersion/additive technology, while the remaining catalog provides raw materials and industrial intermediates for composites, energy storage, sensors, and electronic applications.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Brands

• Flexiphene: NASA-validated nanocarbon dispersion technology platform - patented surfactant-free nanoparticle dispersions for researchers, engineers, and product innovators

Products and services

• Flexiphene Nanocarbon Dispersion Technology Patented, NASA-validated surfactant-free nanocarbon dispersion technology offered as SC-ISE formulations for electronics and sensor applications and as PA 66 masterbatch for structural polymers. Sold to researchers, engineers, and product innovators needing superior dispersion performance without surfactant contamination.
• Flexiphene Surfactant Sheets Proprietary surfactant-based dispersion sheets enabling stable aqueous nanomaterial emulsions for nanocarbon materials. Targeted at researchers and engineers formulating nanocarbon composites in aqueous systems.
• CVD Graphene Films Chemical vapor deposition graphene films available on various substrates including Cu foil, PET, Quartz, Si/SiO2, and TEM grids in monolayer, bilayer, and trilayer configurations for research and device fabrication.
• Graphene Oxide Single-layer and few-layer graphene oxide materials for research and commercial applications in composites, biosensors, and energy storage.
• Graphene Nanoplatelets Stacked graphene sheets available in few-layer (1-5 layers, ~750 m2/g), multi-layer (5-10 layers), and thicker-platelet (10-15 layers) grades, plus functionalized variants (COOH, OH, NH2, F) for polar matrix compatibility in composites, concrete, and coatings.
• Multi Walled Carbon Nanotubes (MWCNTs) Concentric nested graphene tubes with 8-50 nm outer diameter and 95-99.9% purity, available in multiple diameter grades (8nm, 8-15nm, 10-20nm, 20-30nm, 30-50nm, 50nm+) and functionalized variants for composites, battery electrodes, and EMI shielding applications.
• Single Walled and Double Walled Carbon Nanotubes (SW/DWNTs) Single rolled graphene sheets 0.7-2 nm in diameter with 90-99%+ purity, produced via CVD, arc discharge, and HiPco synthesis methods. Available in functionalized (COOH, OH, NH2) variants and short tube variants for inkjet and TFT applications.
• Functionalized Carbon Nanotubes Carbon nanotubes with reactive surface groups including COOH (carboxyl), OH (hydroxyl), NH2 (amine), F (fluorine), and nitrogen-functionalized variants, available for both SWCNTs and MWCNTs to improve dispersion and enable covalent bonding into host matrices.
• Graphitized Multi Walled Carbon Nanotubes High-temperature annealed MWCNTs with 99.5%+ purity for enhanced electrical conductivity, available in various diameter ranges and functionalized grades for high-performance applications.
• Short Carbon Nanotubes Shortened CNT variants 1-4 nm in length for thin-film applications including inkjet printing and thin-film transistor (TFT) fabrication.
• Helical Carbon Nanotubes Spiral-structured multi-walled carbon nanotubes with unique geometric properties for specialized mechanical, electromagnetic, and sensor applications.
• Fullerenes (C60/C70) Closed hollow carbon cage molecules including C60 (99%+ purity, HPLC-characterized) and C70 variants for organic photovoltaics, antioxidants, catalysts, water purification, and biomedical research.
• Industrial Carbon Nanotube Products Bulk-quantity production-grade CNTs and CNT composites for commercial applications including polymer masterbatches (PS, PP, PA6, PC, ABS), CNT-epoxy composites, and bulk powder grades at lower cost-per-gram than research-grade offerings.
• Carbon Nanotube Arrays Vertically aligned CNT arrays for thermal interface materials and specialized thermal management applications.
• Nanowires Silver nanowires (30 nm outer diameter) synthesized in-house via polyol reduction method, available in 25 mg/mL concentration in IPA for transparent conductive electrodes, flexible electronics, and biosensors.
• Nano Inks Nanomaterial-based ink formulations for printable electronics, conductive coatings, and sensor applications.
• Carbon Nanotube Masterbatches Pre-compounded polymer pellets containing 10-20 wt% carbon nanotubes dispersed in carrier polymers (ABS, PA6, PC, PP, PS, Epoxy) for direct dilution during customer manufacturing processes, priced $85-$250/kg.
• Conductive Nanotubes Composite Additive Carbon nanotube and carbon black blend designed as a conductive additive for Li-ion battery electrodes, increasing tap density and charge/discharge cycle life; priced per kilogram for industrial customers.

Quantifiable outcome

• 100x lower electrical resistance (0.09 vs 10+ MΩ) and 96x higher capacitance (50 vs 0.52 µF) vs. industry standard
• +11 more outcomes

Named customers8 records

Segments5 records

Ideal customer profiles4 records

Technology focussed Yes

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Feature5 records

Scale indicators6 records

Recent moves5 records

Expansion highlights6 records

Direct peers

• Graphenea: Graphenea is a Spain-based graphene producer offering CVD graphene films, graphene oxide, and nanoplatelets with a research-focused e-commerce catalog. Directly competes with CTI Materials in the research-grade graphene market with overlapping product lines, similar customer base (academic and industrial R&D), and comparable distribution model.
• XG Sciences: XG Sciences is a US-based graphene nanoplatelet producer focused on commercial-scale GNP supply for energy storage, composites, and coatings. Directly comparable as a GNP supplier serving the same industrial customer use cases (conductive additives, composites) and overlapping product formats.
• Nano-C: Nano-C is a US fullerene and carbon nanotube producer offering C60, C70, SWCNTs, and MWCNTs for research and commercial applications. Directly comparable as a small specialty nanocarbon supplier with overlapping fullerene and CNT product lines serving similar academic and industrial customers.
• Nanocyl: Nanocyl is a Belgium-based MWCNT and CNT dispersion producer serving industrial applications including conductive plastics, energy storage, and composites. Direct competitor in industrial-grade CNT supply, particularly for European automotive and electronics manufacturers, with similar dispersion technology focus.
• SkySpring Nanomaterials: SkySpring Nanomaterials is a US-based nanomaterials distributor offering carbon nanotubes, graphene, fullerenes, and nanowires through a research-focused catalog. Direct competitor with a nearly identical product portfolio and self-serve e-commerce model targeting academic and R&D customers.
• ACS Material: ACS Material is a nanomaterials supplier offering graphene, CNTs, fullerenes, MXene, and related advanced materials through an e-commerce catalog. Direct peer with overlapping product categories, similar research-grade positioning, and comparable pricing model to CTI's CheapTubes storefront.

Broad incumbents

• OCSiAl: OCSiAl is the world's largest single-walled CNT producer with multi-thousand-ton annual capacity, serving industrial customers in batteries, elastomers, and composites globally. Represents the large-scale industrial CNT incumbent that CTI competes against for production-volume customers.
• Strem Chemicals: Strem Chemicals is a US specialty chemicals supplier of research-grade organometallics, nanomaterials, and catalysts for academic and industrial R&D. Broad incumbent serving the same institutional research customer base with overlapping nanomaterial catalog and similar catalog distribution model.
• Sigma-Aldrich (Merck): Sigma-Aldrich (Merck KGaA) is the world's largest research chemicals supplier with an extensive nanomaterials catalog and global distribution. Broad incumbent competing across all of CTI's product categories with scale advantages in distribution, procurement, and brand recognition in research markets.

Emerging players

• Vorbeck Materials: Vorbeck Materials is a US-based graphene producer focused on Vor-ink graphene conductive inks for printed electronics, RFID, and anti-counterfeiting applications. Emerging player with overlapping graphene-based product line and similar specialty focus on conductive inks, but a more application-specific go-to-market.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat4 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles1 record

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

M&A

Investments

M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

Frequently asked questions about cti materials