SBIR Phase I: Manufacturing of Double-Walled Carbon Nanotube/Rigid Rod Polymer Advanced Structural Fibers

这个小型企业创新研究第一阶段项目将采用创新的加工技术，将高度结晶的超长双壁碳纳米管(DWCNT)引入聚对苯二甲酸乙二醇酯(芳纶)(芳纶)中，以制备用于执法和士兵防弹的先进结构纤维，以及用于商用和军用飞机的结构材料。目前的结构纤维是由高度取向的结晶聚合物或碳制成的。聚合物纤维非常坚韧，但其强度和硬度超过了碳纤维，每种类型都有明确的利基应用。本研究的目的是利用高结晶度的DWNT将这些性能结合起来，制备出同时具有高强度和高韧性的下一代结构纤维。该项目解决了限制纳米管-聚合物复合材料接近其理论性能的两个最重要的缺陷：通过在目标聚合物中加入超过临界长度的超长功能化的DWCNT来进行负载转移，以及通过在高度取向的纺丝过程之前将纳米管加入到聚合物中来实现纳米管的取向。这项研究的预期结果是开发出超过目前聚合物纤维的韧性和碳纤维的强度的结构纤维。如果该项目成功，该项目的更广泛的影响/商业潜力是以比常规纤维最小的成本增加获得并批量生产超高强度结构纤维。这在为人员和车辆提供机动性的个人和车辆防弹保护方面产生了立竿见影的影响；在商业航空航天行业，由于燃料的成本和可获得性继续影响该行业，重量正变得更加重要。通过这项研究开发的技术将加强对碳纳米管的物理和表面性质如何影响聚合物性能的科学和技术理解，不仅是对纤维，也是对全聚合物复合材料。第一阶段团队包括研究机构、制造商和最终用户，他们准备将成功的项目从实验室投入生产和商业化。如果成功，这项技术将对执法和维持和平特派团产生重大影响，为人员提供更大的流动性和更好的保护，以便成功执行任务，同时可能挽救许多人的生命。商业影响将是将这种材料用于结构材料和装甲，提供更轻、更高功能的飞机和军用车辆，节省工业和军事资金和材料。

This Small Business Innovation Research Phase I project will employ innovative processing technologies to incorporate highly crystalline ultra-long double wall carbon nanotubes (DWCNTs) into poly(p-phenylene terephthalamide) (Kevlar) to prepare advanced structural fibers for ballistic protection for our law enforcement and soldiers, and structural materials for commercial and military aircraft. Current structural fibers are made from highly oriented, crystalline polymers or carbon. The polymer fibers are very tough, but their strength and stiffness is surpassed by carbon fibers, and each type has defined niche applications. The objective of this research is to utilize highly crystalline DWNT to combine these properties and prepare next-generation structural fibers with both high strength and toughness. This project addresses two of the most important deficiencies that have been limiting nanotube-polymer composites from approaching their theoretical properties: load transfer, by incorporating ultralong functionalized DWCNTs longer than the critical length in the target polymer, and nanotube alignment, by incorporating the nanotubes into the polymer prior to the highly orienting spinning process. The anticipated result of this research is the development of structural fibers that exceed the toughness of present polymer fibers and the strength of carbon fibers.The broader impact/commercial potential of this project, if successful, is the availability and mass production of ultra-high strength structural fibers with minimal cost increase over conventional fibers. This gives immediate impact in personal and vehicle ballistic protection affording mobility to personnel and vehicles; and in the commercial aerospace industry in which weight is becoming more of a premium as the cost and availability of fuel continues to impact this sector. The technology developed through this research will enhance scientific and technological understanding of how the physical and surface properties of carbon nanotubes affect the performance of polymers, not just for fibers but also in all-polymer composites. The Phase I team includes research institutions, manufacturers and end-users that are poised to take a successful program from the laboratory into production and commercialization. If successful, the technology will substantially impact law enforcement and peacekeeping missions, affording personnel higher mobility and better protection in order to successfully execute their duties, while potentially saving many lives. The commercial impact will be the use of this material for structural materials and armor, affording lighter weight, higher functionality aircraft and military vehicles, saving industry and the military money and materials.