I-Corps: Nanocellulose Filaments for Thermal Management in Apparel Fabrics

这个i-Corps项目的更广泛的影响/商业潜力是开发用于各种热管理应用的纳米纤维素长丝。由于导热系数高，这种长丝(线)可用于开发可能用于运动休闲和工业服装品牌的导热功能服装面料。目前，运动员、锻炼爱好者、消防员和士兵等终端消费者受到服装面料温度调节不足的困扰。由于更高性能的计算机和智能电子设备的快速发展，对印刷电路板产品的需求呈指数级增长。该灯丝还可以集成到具有定向冷却能力的印刷电路板的制造过程中。这种长丝技术的社会影响在于其可持续性。目前，纺织品中60%的材料来自石化产品。然而，拟议的技术主要是从可持续的植物生物质转化而来，因此起始材料的来源更可持续。这个i-Corps项目是基于开发具有高导热系数的纳米纤维素长丝。所提出的技术由纤维素纳米纤维和氮化硼纳米管组成，它们通过微流态化过程均匀分散。在凝固浴中，纤维素纳米纤维和氮化硼纳米管的悬浮液通过湿法纺丝得到长丝。长丝的高导热系数归因于氮化硼纳米管和纤维素纳米纤维的高固有导热系数，以及由于它们之间的强烈相互作用而导致的低界面热阻。该奖项反映了NSF的法定使命，并通过使用基金会的智力优势和更广泛的影响审查标准进行评估，被认为值得支持。

The broader impact/commercial potential of this I-Corps project is the development of nanocellulose filaments for a variety of thermal management applications. With high thermal conductivity, the filaments (threads) may be used to develop thermally conductive functional apparel fabrics potentially used for athleisure and industrial apparel brands. Currently, end-consumers such as athletes, workout enthusiasts, fire fighters, and soldiers suffer from insufficient thermoregulation of apparel fabrics. The demand for printed circuit board products has increased exponentially due to the rapid development of higher performance computers and smart electronic devices. The filaments also may be integrated into the manufacturing process of printed circuit boards with capabilities of directional cooling. The societal impact of this filament technology is its sustainability. Currently, 60% of materials in textiles are derived from petro-chemicals. However, the proposed technology is mainly converted from sustainable plant biomass so the starting material is more sustainably sourced.This I-Corps project is based on the development of nanocellulose filaments with high thermal conductivity. The proposed technology consists of cellulose nanofibers and boron nitride nanotubes that are uniformly dispersed through the microfluidizer process. The filaments are fabricated via wet spinning of the suspension of cellulose nanofibers and boron nitride nanotubes in a coagulation bath. The high thermal conductivity of the filaments is attributed to high intrinsic thermal conductivities of boron nitride nanotubes and cellulose nanofibers as well as low interfacial thermal resistance due to the strong interaction between them.This award reflects NSF's statutory mission and has been deemed worthy of support through evaluation using the Foundation's intellectual merit and broader impacts review criteria.