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Nanotailored Carbon Fibers via Ultra-Long Carbon Nanotubes: Scale-Up and Post Processing

Award Information
Agency: Department of Defense
Branch: Air Force
Contract: FA9550-09-C-0016
Agency Tracking Number: F08A-028-0158
Amount: $99,988.00
Phase: Phase I
Program: STTR
Solicitation Topic Code: AF08-T028
Solicitation Number: 2008.A
Timeline
Solicitation Year: 2008
Award Year: 2009
Award Start Date (Proposal Award Date): 2008-09-02
Award End Date (Contract End Date): 2009-05-02
Small Business Information
409 W. Maple St.
Yadkinville, NC 27055
United States
DUNS: 041336913
HUBZone Owned: No
Woman Owned: No
Socially and Economically Disadvantaged: No
Principal Investigator
 Jay Gaillard
 Chief Technical Officer
 (336) 849-7474
 gaillardj@nanotechlabs.com
Business Contact
 Richard Czerw
Title: President
Phone: (336) 403-7762
Email: czerwr@nanotechlabs.com
Research Institution
 University of Texas Dallas
 Rafael Martin
 
Office of Sponsored Projects, 800 West Campbell
Richardson, TX 75080
United States

 (972) 883-2313
 Nonprofit College or University
Abstract

The goal of the proposed work is to refine and scale-up the production of high strength continuous threads prepared from ultra-long carbon nanotubes (CNTs). The NanoTechLabs, Inc. (NTL) team will work to produce fibers spun from NTL’s ultra-long CNTs. Significant challenges remain that are primarily related to the development of scalable methods for making high strength, CNT threads for the production of ultra-strong and lightweight composite materials. The most significant ones are: 1) dispersion and functionalization of currently available long CNTs, 2) developing effective and scalable thread manufacturing processes for producing threads which express the desirable properties of the carbon nanotubes 3) developing post-production processes to enhance the mechanical properties of the threads, 4) developing a reliable method for producing ultra-long nanotubes (>5 mm) to increase the fiber interactions within the thread, and 5) scaling up the production of these ultra-long carbon nanotubes. Methods that rely on the strengths of the three partners working on the Phase 1 project will be used to overcome these challenges. BENEFIT: The MWNT yarns are interesting as multifunctional materials. The strength, toughness, reversible energy absorption capability, and resistance to knot-induced failure could be exploited for multifunctional materials applications, as could yarn diameters that are up to fifty times smaller than for a human hair. Replacing metal wires in electronic textiles with these nanotube yarns could provide important new functionalities, like the ability to actuate as an artificial muscle and to store energy as a fiber supercapacitor or battery. The small yarn diameters, like those of microdenier yarns used for soft fabrics, could eliminate the uncomfortable rigidity sometimes found for metal-wire-containing conducting textiles that provide radio or microwave absorption, electrostatic discharge protection, textile heating, or interconnect electronic devices.

* Information listed above is at the time of submission. *

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