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：AIR技术翻译项目的重点是翻译一种新型的热界面材料（TIM），由π- 共轭聚合物纳米管具有显著的热机械性能，填补了关键电子器件冷却技术的空白，特别是在高温下。 转化的纯聚合物TIM具有以下独特特征：热导率大于本体聚合物的10倍，在200 °C下具有优异的化学稳定性，超低有效剪切模量，以及与表面的优异干粘合性，与该市场领域的领先竞争TIM相比，提供了低接触热阻和接头耐久性的示例性组合。 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，并改善了与衬底的结合，从而产生了功能性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.，一家小型初创公司，专注于TIM解决方案的商业化，为高温电子市场提供指导（例如，军事设备、汽车系统、石油勘探系统等）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，因为它们涉及沿着可能导致竞争性商业现实的路径转化聚合物纳米管TIM的潜力。 潜在的经济影响预计在未来7年内年销售额将超过100万美元，同时通过实现新的电子设备性能和产品产生的间接经济影响为1亿美元。 这将有助于提高美国在电力电子和高温电子市场的竞争力。 长期的社会影响将是实现高温电子设备的可靠热管理，同时培训和培养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.