SBIR Phase I: Nanocomposite Carbon and Graphitic Foams Produced via a Catalytic Approach

这个小企业创新研究（SBIR）第一阶段项目将通过催化方法开发碳和石墨纳米复合泡沫的快速后处理技术。我们的新方法将大大缩短后处理时间。纳米纤维的增强将改善碳泡沫和石墨泡沫的力学性能。这个第一阶段的项目将研究和展示以中间相沥青为起始材料的微孔碳和石墨泡沫的快速后处理和纳米复合技术。纳米复合碳和石墨泡沫将分别具有绝缘和导电性能。微孔碳和石墨泡沫预计将有许多商业应用，包括高温夹层结构、能量吸收器、电极、气体和水的净化和分离、喷气发动机转子和定子、空间结构、火箭发动机喷嘴部件和热结构。该技术还可用于制造其他碳基材料，如纤维、碳/碳复合材料和混合复合材料，这些材料具有许多结构应用。

This Small Business Innovation Research (SBIR) Phase I project will develop a rapid post-processing technique for carbon and graphitic nanocomposite foams via a catalytic approach. Our novel approach will greatly reduce the post-processing time. The mechanical properties of carbon and graphitic foams will be improved by the reinforcement of nanofibers. This Phase I project will research and demonstrate the proposed rapid post-processing and nanocomposite technique for microcellular carbon and graphitic foams with mesophase pitch as the starting material. Both the nanocomposite carbon and graphitic foams will be developed that possess insulating and conducting properties, respectively.Microcellular carbon and graphitic foams are expected to have many commercial applications including high temperature sandwich structures, energy absorbers, electrodes, purification and separation of gas and water, jet-engine rotors and stators, space structures, nozzle components in rocket engines, and hot structures. The proposed technique can also be used to manufacture other carbon-based materials like fibers, carbon/carbon composites, and hybrid composites, which have many structural applications.