SBIR Phase I: Improved Catalysis for Carbon Fiber Production

这项小型企业创新研究（SBIR）第一阶段项目旨在通过使用改进的催化剂将生长产量提高一个数量级，将高性能气相生长碳纤维（VGCF）转化为商业上可行的产品。该材料已被用于制造各种基体材料中具有创纪录热性能的复合材料，同时减轻了重量。然而，这种材料的成本很高，可生产的数量太少，无法进行广泛的商业开发。使纤维成核的催化剂效率很低，限制了生产速度。本项目将改进催化剂分散方法，从而优化催化剂颗粒的尺寸分布，提高成核率。催化剂效率的提高将导致生产速率的相应提高和成本的降低。VGCF增强复合材料的市场包括需要改进、重量更轻、热管理系统的领域，如航天和航空、大功率电子、消费电子和发电。对于许多应用，VGCF增强复合材料的热性能将是有利的。对于其他人来说，它将允许被动冷却取代主动系统，从而降低成本并提高可靠性。

This Small Business Innovation Research (SBIR) Phase I project seeks make high performance vapor-grown carbon fiber (VGCF) into a commercially viable product by using improved catalysis to increase the growth yield by an order of magnitude. This material has been used to create composites with record setting thermal properties in a variety of matrix materials, while reducing weight. However, the cost of this material is high and the quantities that can be produced are far too low to allow its widespread commercial exploitation. The production rate is limited by a very low efficiency of the catalyst that nucleates fiber growth. Work under this program will improve the method of catalyst dispersion, thereby optimizing the size distribution of catalyst particles, and leading to an increased nucleation rate. Improved catalyst efficiency will result in proportionate increases in production rates and decreases in costs.Markets for VGCF reinforced composites include fields that need improved, lighter weight, thermal management systems, such as space and aviation, high power electronics, consumer electronics, and power generation. For many applications, the thermal performance of VGCF reinforced composites will be enabling. For others, it will allow passive cooling to replace active systems, thereby reducing cost and increasing reliability.