SBIR Phase I: Improved Manufacturing Method for Carbon Nanofiber Production

这个小型企业创新研究第一阶段项目将研究通过气体喷射工艺（NGJ）形成新型碳纳米纤维的有效性，并确认将这些纳米纤维纳入聚合物系统后的性能优势。各种直径的碳纤维增强了广泛的材料和产品，以提高强度重量比，改善复合结构的热电性能。然而，在最大的纳米纤维（100纳米）和最小的微纤维（3000纳米）之间存在着巨大的纤维直径差距。在纤维的长径比中也存在类似的间隙。实验室演示表明，NGJ工艺产生的纤维可以填补这些空白。该项目的目标是开发设备和程序，以证明NGJ纳米纤维在重要应用中的高容量和低成本优势。该项目包括1)设计和制造中试规模设备，2)纳米纤维的生产和表征，3)复合材料样品的制备，以及4)用NJG纳米纤维增强的复合材料与市售纳米纤维增强的复合材料的比较。该研究结果将证明NGJ纳米纤维的优势及其商业可行性。该项目的完成将有助于了解大直径、高纵横比的碳纳米纤维对复合聚合物性能的影响。此外，石墨增强纳米纤维的广泛直径范围的可用性将改善复合材料组件的设计和优化以及制造过程控制。此外，通过NGJ工艺生产的不同直径的纤维中排列的类石墨烯片的方式将揭示基本形态差异。该项目将导致具有独特机械性能的低成本、高性能碳纳米纤维的商业化。这些材料给社会带来的好处包括重量更轻、强度更高的部件被用于大多数汽车，这将减少燃料消耗。此外，当用作锂离子电池电极中负担得起的高性能填料时，这些碳纳米纤维将有助于电动汽车获得大众的吸引力。随着低成本、高性能材料被纳入制造工艺、包装产品、粘合剂和许多其他供应链材料，显著的性能改进和成本降低将带来额外的好处。该奖项是根据2009年美国复苏和再投资法案（公法111-5）资助的。

This Small Business Innovation Research Phase I project will investigate the effectiveness of forming novel carbon nanofibers by a gas jet process (NGJ) and confirm performance benefits as these nanofibers are incorporated into polymer systems. Carbon fibers of various diameters enhance a broad range of materials and products to increase the strength-to-weight ratio and improve thermal and electrical properties of composite structures. However, a substantial gap in available fiber diameters exists between the largest nanofiber (100 nm) and the smallest microfiber (3000 nm). A similar gap exists in the aspect ratio of the fibers. Laboratory demonstrations have shown the NGJ process produces fibers that fill these gaps. The objectives of this project are to develop the equipment and procedures that demonstrate the high volume and low cost advantages of NGJ nanofibers reproducibly in important applications. This project consists of 1) design and fabrication of pilot scale equipment, 2) production and characterization of nanofibers, 3) preparation of composite samples, and 4) comparison of composites reinforced with NJG nanofibers to those reinforced with commercially available nanofibers. The results of this research will prove the advantages of the NGJ nanofibers and their commercial viability. Completion of this project will provide an understanding of the impact of larger diameter, higher aspect ratio carbon nanofibers on composite polymer performance. Additionally, the design and optimization of composite components and the process controls of fabrication will be improved by the availability of a wide range of diameters of the graphitic reinforcing nanofibers fibers. Also, fundamental morphological differences will be revealed in the way that graphene-like sheets are arranged in fibers of varying diameters produced by the NGJ process. This project will lead to the commercialization of low cost, high performance carbon nanofibers with unique mechanical properties. Benefits to society from these materials will include lighter weight, higher strength components utilized in most automobiles, which will reduce fuel consumption. Also, when used as affordable high performance fillers in lithium ion battery electrodes, these carbon nanofibers will help electric cars achieve mass appeal. Additional benefits will arise from the significant performance improvements and cost reductions that occur as the low cost, high performance materials are incorporated into manufacturing processes, packaging products, adhesives, and many other supply chain materials.This award is funded under the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act of 2009 (Public Law 111-5).