SBIR Phase I: Sensor/Controller for Submicron Fiberizing Processes

这个小型企业创新研究第一阶段项目旨在开发一种在线实时测量亚微米纤维尺寸到100纳米的仪器。该装置的输出将用于控制生产精细纤维的工业过程。在玻璃和聚合物纤维工业中，为了获得非凡的性能，使用更细的纤维的趋势越来越大。用于制造细旦纤维的工艺是在极端条件下运行的，因此需要密切监测和控制这些工艺，以确保可靠的运行。目前，还没有在线测量亚微米纤维尺寸的技术。拟议研究的目标是升级现有仪器的电子、光学和机械设备，以便能够测量到100 nm的光纤。除了为纤维行业提供优化制造流程的先进工具外，该项目还将通过提高重要制造业的效率和生产率，产生更广泛的经济和环境影响。以纤维为主要成分的产品(过滤器、面料等)的总市场价值几千亿美元。相关纤维化工艺生产率的任何提高都将导致更高的能源效率以及更低的污染物排放。

This Small Business Innovation Research Phase I project is aimed at developing an instrument for online real-time measurement of the sizes of submicron fibers down to 100 nm. Output of this device would be used to control industrial processes for making fine fibers. There is a growing trend of using finer fibers, both in glass and polymer fiber industries, in order to obtain extraordinary properties. Processes used for making fine fibers are operated under extreme conditions, so it is desirable to closely monitor and control them in order to ensure a reliable operation. Currently, there is no technique available to measure submicron fiber size online. The objective of the proposed research is to upgrade the electronics, optics and mechanics of the existing instrument, in order to enable measurement of fibers down to 100 nm. Besides providing the fiber industry with an advanced tool to optimize the manufacturing process, this project would have broader economic and environmental impacts by enhancing the efficiency and productivity of a significant manufacturing sector. The total market of products with fibers as the primary component (filters, fabrics, etc.) is worth several hundred billion dollars. Any improvement in the productivity of the pertinent fiberizing processes would result in higher energy efficiency as well as lower pollutantemissions.