SBIR Phase I: Electrically Conducting Polymer Matrix Nanocomposite Wires

9860502 这个小型企业创新研究第一阶段项目将证明通过挤出填充有银和铜纳米颗粒的聚合物来生产高导电电线的可行性。 通过与特拉华州弗劳恩霍夫资源中心（FRC-DE）的合作者合作，我们在填充聚合物方面取得了新的进展，即通过加入纳米级（~50 nm）颗粒聚集体的金属微米级填料。 填料材料的这种独特形态能够将逾渗阈值降低到低于10体积%，其远低于常规填料中的逾渗阈值。 由于这种新型的聚合物-金属纳米复合材料结构，在聚合物基体带材中实现了高导电性和良好的机械性能。 在项目的第一阶段，我们将制造具有高室温电导率、模量和拉伸强度的聚合物纳米复合材料线。 第二阶段计划将包括优化性能，建立原型连续生产装置，建立生产协议，并与最终用户公司密切合作。 第三阶段将进行大规模生产。 需要生产具有低密度、高电导率、高模量和拉伸强度的填充聚合物。 我们独特的方法，将微米级多孔填料组成的聚集纳米级颗粒是一个解决方案的问题。 这种新材料是较重金属线的潜在替代品，可用作导电胶带和粘合剂，因此可以解决巨大的市场。

9860502 This Small Business Innovative Research Phase I Project will demonstrate the feasibility of producing highly conducting wires by extrusion of polymers filled with nanoparticles of silver and copper. Working with our collaborators at Fraunhofer Resource Center-Delaware (FRC-DE), we have made advances in filled polymers in a new direction by incorporating metallic micron size fillers that are aggregates of nansocale (~50 nm) particles. Such a unique morphology of the filler material enables reduction of the percolation threshold to below 10 vol.%, which is much lower than the percolation threshold in conventional fillers. High conductivity, combined with good mechanical properties were achieved in polymer matrix tapes as a result of this novel polymer-metal nanocomposite structure. In Phase I of the project, we will fabricate polymer nanocomposite wires with high room temperature electrical conductivity, modulus and tensile strength. The Phase II program will consist of optimizing the properties, building a prototype continuous production unit, establishing production protocols, and working closely with end-user companies. Large-scale production will be undertaken in Phase III. There is a need to produce filled polymers that have low density, high electrical conductivity, high modulus and tensile strength. Our unique method of incorporating micron size porous fillers consisting of aggregated nanoscale particles is a solution to the problem. The new material is a potential replacement for the heavier metallic wires, can be used as conducting tapes and adhesives, and so large markets can be addressed.