AIR Option 1: Technology Translation: Large-scale manufacturing of polymer nanotube array thermal interface materials for efficient heat removal from high-temperature electronics

这个PFI：空气技术转换项目专注于转换一种新型的热界面材料(TIM)，这种材料由具有显著热机械性能的共轭聚合物纳米管阵列组成，以填补关键的电子设备冷却技术空白，特别是在高温下。转换后的纯聚合物TIM具有以下独特功能：导热系数大于本体聚合物的10倍，在200℃下具有出色的化学稳定性，超低的有效剪切模数，以及与表面的出色干附着力，与该市场领域领先的竞争对手TIM相比，提供了低接触热阻和接头耐用性的典范组合。该项目通过开发一种新的制造方法来实现这一目标，该方法消除了难以控制和复杂的步骤，并改善了与基板的结合，从而产生了功能产品原型和可扩展的制造工艺。该合作伙伴关系涉及Carbice NanoTechnologies，Inc.，这是一家专注于TIM解决方案商业化的小型初创公司，在高温电子市场(如军事设备、汽车系统、石油勘探系统等)提供指导。以及其他方面，包括客户驱动的产品开发、知识产权定位和融资，因为这些方面涉及将聚合物纳米管TIM转化为可能导致竞争性商业现实的途径的潜力。潜在的经济影响预计将在未来7年内超过100万美元的年销售额，同时通过启用新的电子设备性能功能和由此产生的产品，同时产生1亿美元的间接经济影响。这将有助于美国在电力电子和高温电子市场领域的竞争力。从长远来看，其社会影响将是实现对高温电子设备的可靠热管理，同时培训和准备年轻企业家建立成功的技术公司。

This PFI: AIR Technology Translation project focuses on translating a new type of thermal interface material (TIM) composed of arrays of π-conjugated polymer nanotubes with remarkable thermo-mechanical properties to fill a critical electronic device cooling technology gap, especially at high temperatures. The translated pure polymer TIM has the following unique features: thermal conductivity greater than 10 times bulk polymer, excellent chemical stability at 200 °C, ultralow effective shear modulus, and excellent dry adhesion to surfaces that provides an exemplary combination of low thermal contact resistance and joint durability when compared to the leading competing TIMs in this market space. The project accomplishes this goal by developing a new fabrication approach that eliminates a difficult to control and complex step and improves bonding to the substrate resulting in a functional product prototype and a scalable fabrication process. The partnership engages Carbice Nanotechnologies, Inc., a small start-up company focused on commercializing TIM solutions, to provide guidance in the high-temperature electronics market (e.g., military equipment, automotive systems, oil exploration systems, etc.) and other aspects including customer-driven product development, intellectual property positioning, and financing as they pertain to the potential to translate the polymer nanotube TIMs along a path that may result in a competitive commercial reality. The potential economic impact is expected to surpass $1 million in annual sales in the next 7 years with a concurrent indirect economic impact of $100 million by enabling new electronic device performance capabilities and resulting products. This will contribute to the U.S. competitiveness in the power electronics and high-temperature electronics market spaces. The societal impact, long term, will be to enable reliable thermal management of high temperature electronic devices while concurrently training and preparing young entrepreneurs to establish successful technology companies.