SGER: Cost-Effective Substitutes for Carbon Nanotubes and Other Nanocomposites

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Cost-Effective Substitutes for Carbon Nanotubes and Other NanocompositesPI: Shing-Chung Wong, Co-PI Bor Z Jang, Department of Mechanical EngineeringNorth Dakota State UniversityFargo, ND 58105 Email: Josh.Wong@ndsu.nodak.edu Tel: (701) 231-8840 Fax: (701) 231-8913AbstractA novel design for nanocomposites using nanoscaled graphene plates (NGPs) is investigated. Processes for carbon nanotube (CNT), despite its great promise in maneuvering varied functionality, are prohibitively expensive for composite applications. Instead of trying to discover much lower-cost processes for CNT, we make use of a mass production processing technology and formulate a distinct and cost-effective breed of nanoscale reinforcements. If successful, these nanomaterials will be available at much lower cost and tailorable for different end-use requirements. The proposed nanocomposites are distinctly different from existing carbon black, CNT and nanoclay reinforcements. Yet they can be used as functional fillers like CNTs. Preliminary data showed that the resulting composites dramatically reduced the percolation threshold, competitive with those of CNTs, for electrical transition from an insulator to a semiconductor. Interesting observations like reduced melt viscosity and improved UV shielding were made. The proposed research includes fabrication, characterization and multiscale modeling of NGPs and their nanocomposites.