SBIR Phase I: Automotive Nanocomposites

小型企业创新研究(SBIR)第一阶段项目将通过将粘土阻挡膜(CBF)纳米技术应用于汽车应用，特别是燃料箱制造的热塑性聚合物系统(HDPE)，开发一种低渗透复合材料。到目前为止的初步工作表明，与纯聚合物相比，CBF纳米复合材料对典型燃料成分(如乙醇、异辛烷和甲苯)的渗透率降低了400多倍。这项拟议工作的另一个目标是改善无机CBF和有机HDPE相界面的粘附性，从而消除影响复合材料结构完整性和强度的“气泡”(充满液体燃料)的形成。拟议研究项目的成功完成将导致热塑性聚合物材料能够满足传统燃料汽车和弹性燃料汽车的燃料排放标准。这项拟议技术的其他潜在应用包括高阻隔性内墙板、食品和药品包装。

The Small Business Innovation Research (SBIR) Phase I project will develop a low permeability composite material by applying a clay barrier film (CBF) nanotechnology to thermoplastic polymer systems (HDPE) for automotive applications, particularly for the manufacturing of fuel tanks. Preliminary work to date has shown that CBF nanocomposites are more than 400 times lower in permeability toward representative fuel components (such as ethanol, isoctane, and toluene) in comparison to the pure polymer. An additional goal of this proposed work is to improve the adhesion at the interface of the inorganic CBF and organic HDPE phases, thereby eliminating the formation of "blisters " (filled with liquid fuel) that compromise the structural integrity and strength of the composite. Successful completion of the proposed research project will lead to thermoplastic polymer-based materials capable of meeting the fuel emission standards for both conventional and for flex fuel vehicles. Other potential applications of the proposed technology include high barrier interior paneling, food and drug packaging.