SBIR Phase I: Nanomaterials Reinforced Light-Weight Structural Composites

这个小型企业创新研究第一阶段的项目是设计、合成、制造和测试基于商业证明的树脂、长纤维和纳米功能颗粒的高性能聚合物复合材料结构。长纤维可以为复合材料提供良好的力学性能，而负担得起的纳米颗粒，如纳米粘土、石墨烯、碳纳米纤维和碳纳米管，可以改善阻隔性能，加强长纤维之间的基质。为了成功地生产这些新的复合材料，需要解决两个问题：如何在长纤维存在的情况下分散纳米颗粒，以及在纳米颗粒存在的情况下能否保持和提高树脂的加工性。我们的方法是开发这些纳米粒子的新型表面涂层，以帮助分散并增强粒子的表面亲油性，从而将纳米粒子产生的流动阻力降至最低。此外，新型表面涂层还可以提高低温固化的环氧树脂和乙烯基酯树脂的反应速度和最终转化率。这对于采用真空辅助树脂传递模塑工艺制造大型复合材料结构具有重要的参考价值。预计成功地将这些经过修饰的纳米颗粒整合到结构复合材料中将满足能源、运输、建筑和安全行业的多种要求苛刻的应用，预期的结果是大幅提高复合材料在材料行业中的整体份额，并使纳米材料创新有限公司(NIL)成为行业创新的领导者。虽然钢、木材和铝在今天很流行，但这种新的复合材料将使传统材料能够被更轻、更坚固、更耐用和成本效益高的纳米定制复合材料所取代。这些高附加值纳米定制复合材料产品的成功商业化将对能源生产、材料使用、能源消耗和环境管理产生重大影响。这一奖项将增强美国在多功能纳米定制复合材料和产品方面的全球领先地位。社会利益包括减少对石油的依赖，提高能源效率，减少对导致全球变暖的传统化石燃料的使用。教育和科学利益涉及纳米复合材料技术的开创性，以及该项目将提供的推进知识前沿和培训未来科学家的机会。该奖项由2009年《美国复苏和再投资法案》(公法111-5)资助。

This Small Business Innovation Research Phase I project is to design, synthesize, manufacture, and test high-performance polymeric composite structures based on commercially proven resins, long fibers and nano-sized functional particles. Long fibers can provide good mechanical properties for the composites, while affordable nanoparticles such as nanoclays, graphene, carbon nanofibers and carbon nanotubes may improve barrier properties and strengthen the matrix between long fibers. To succeed in producing these new composites, two issues need to be addressed: how to disperse nanoparticles in the presence of long fibers and whether or not resin processability can be maintained and enhanced in the presence of nanoparticles. Our approach is to develop novel surface coatings of those nanoparticles, which can assist the dispersion and enhance the surface oleophilicity of the particles; consequently minimizing the flow resistance resulting from the nanoparticles. Furthermore, novel surface coatings can also increase the reaction rate and final conversion for both epoxy and vinylester resins cured at low temperature. This is highly valuable for manufacturing large composite structures using vacuum assisted resin transfer molding process. It is anticipated that successfully incorporating these modified nanoparticles in structural composites will address multiple demanding applications in energy, transportation, construction and security industries.The expected outcome expect is to significantly grow the overall share of composites in the materials industry and position Nanomaterial Innovation Ltd. (NIL) to be the industry innovation leader. While steel, wood and aluminum are prevalent today, the new composite materials will enable the replacement of traditional materials with lighter, stronger, more durable, and cost effective nano-tailored composites. Successful commercialization of these higher value-added nano-tailored composite products will have a significant impact on energy generation, material use, energy consumption and environmental stewardship. This award will enhance the United States global leadership position in multifunctional nano-tailored composite materials and products. Societal benefits include reduced petroleum dependency, improved energy efficiency, and reduced use of conventional fossil fuels that contribute to global warming. Educational and scientific benefits relate to the pioneering nature of nanocomposite technology and the opportunity this project will provide to advance frontiers of knowledge and the training of future scientists.This award is funded under the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act of 2009 (Public Law 111-5).