STTR Phase I: Self-Assembled Conductive Polymer Nanostructures as Coating Additives for Carbon Fiber Reinforced Composite Aircraft

这项小型企业技术转移第一阶段项目旨在证明新型纳米结构导电添加剂用于防静电航空高性能涂料的可行性。对于使用由非导电塑料或复合材料制成的轻质部件的车辆来说，来自环境的静电荷积累是一个关键问题。静电积累会干扰电子元件，例如分布式传感器，因此减轻这种影响对于车辆的安全运行至关重要。该项目将表征和关联新型导电聚合物纳米结构的结构和性能，这些结构和性能是由廉价的原材料合成的，并分散在有机溶剂中，直接加入到商业涂料配方中。这些新型添加剂是基于导电聚合物和结构导向剂合成的自组装纳米结构。当成功地加入到商业涂料和底漆中时，宿主的导电性能得到增强，而不会影响附着力和耐久性。在这个项目中，研究团队将制定可扩展和经济合成聚合物添加剂的技术计划，控制和优化添加剂的纳米结构，以在低浓度下最大化导电性，通过化学掺杂增强导电性，并在保持性能规格的同时成功地将其应用于商业涂料。这个项目的更广泛的影响/商业潜力涉及到在航空航天工业中增加采用轻质碳增强复合材料和塑料结构材料。使用这些部件的轻量化车辆的设计需要高性能的抗静电涂层，这将大大减少运输中的燃料消耗和碳排放。2011年，交通运输排放占美国温室气体排放量的28%。采用复合材料的现代飞机设计，与传统车辆相比，燃油消耗减少了20%以上。汽车燃油效率标准即将提高，这也将促使制造商采用复合材料。开发坚固的抗静电涂层对于实现这些新型轻质材料技术至关重要。含有聚合物纳米结构的涂层将提供更好的电荷耗散，减轻重量，提高耐用性，并且比竞争材料成本更低。航空航天应用的成功也将使这些技术能够在其他部门（例如汽车）得到采用，扩大经济和生态效益，并提供后续的商业机会。

This Small Business Technology Transfer Phase I project aims to demonstrate the feasibility of new nanostructured conductive additives for use in antistatic aerospace high-performance coatings. Static charge buildup from the environment is a critical problem for vehicles which utilize lightweight components constructed from non-conductive plastic or composite materials. Static charge buildup interferes with electronic components, such as distributed sensors, so that mitigation of this effect is essential for safe vehicle operation. This project will characterize and correlate the structure and properties of new conductive polymer nanostructures that are synthesized from inexpensive raw materials and dispersed in organic solvents for direct incorporation into commercial paint formulations. These new additives are based on the synthesis of self-assembling nanostructures from conductive polymers and structure-directing agents. When successfully incorporated in commercial paints and primers, the host's conductive properties are enhanced without compromising adhesion and durability. In this project, the research team will develop technical plans for the scalable and economic synthesis of polymer additives, control and optimize the nanostructure of the additives to maximize conductivity at low concentrations, enhance the electrical conductivity through chemical doping, and demonstrate successful incorporation in commercial coatings while preserving performance specifications. The broader impact/commercial potential of this project relates to enabling the increased adoption of lightweight carbon reinforced composites and plastic structural materials in the aerospace industry. The design of lightweight vehicles using these components, which requires high-performing antistatic coatings, will lead to large reductions in fuel consumption and carbon emissions in transportation. In 2011, emissions from transportation accounted for 28% of U.S. greenhouse gas emissions. Modern aircraft designs, utilizing composite materials, show more than 20% reduction in fuel consumption compared to traditional vehicles. Imminent increases in fuel efficiency standards in automobiles will also drive manufacturers to adopt the use of composite materials. The development of robust antistatic coatings is essential to enabling these new lightweight material technologies. Coatings containing polymer nanostructures will provide improved charge dissipation, reduced weight, improved durability, and will cost less than competing materials. Success in aerospace applications will could also enable the adoption of these technologies in other sectors (e.g. automobile), expanding the economic and ecological benefits and providing follow-on commercial opportunities.