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Industrial Production Methods for Ultra-High-Strength Fibers based on Double-Walled Carbon Nanotubes

Award Information
Agency: Department of Defense
Branch: Army
Contract: W912HZ-13-P-0015
Agency Tracking Number: A12A-026-0441
Amount: $99,999.00
Phase: Phase I
Program: STTR
Solicitation Topic Code: A12a-T026
Solicitation Number: 2012.A
Timeline
Solicitation Year: 2012
Award Year: 2013
Award Start Date (Proposal Award Date): 2013-02-19
Award End Date (Contract End Date): 2013-08-19
Small Business Information
7960 S. Kolb Rd.
Tucson, AZ -
United States
DUNS: 147518286
HUBZone Owned: No
Woman Owned: No
Socially and Economically Disadvantaged: No
Principal Investigator
 Raouf Loutfy
 President
 (520) 574-1980
 mercorp@mercorp.com
Business Contact
 James Withers
Title: C.E.O.
Phone: (520) 574-1980
Email: jcwithers@mercorp.com
Research Institution
 Northwestern University
 Elizabeth H Adams
 
Office for Sponsored Research 633 Clark Street
Evanston, IL 60208-1110
United States

 (847) 491-3003
 Nonprofit College or University
Abstract

This proposal seeks to develop a viable, cost-effective industrial technique for production of ultrastrong, flexible and tough carbon fibers composed of double-walled carbon nanotubes (DWNTs) combined with a small amount of polymer matrix, based on a continuous process for manufacturing these fibers. MER"s innovative technology for the efficient production of uniquely thin and highly twisted DWNT yarns directly from an aerogel generated in a floating catalyst CVD reactorwill be combined with electron irradiation treatments by our STTR partner Northwestern University. Such treatments cause crosslinking that will enhance the load transfer in these optimally twisted and stretched fibers, which are composed of very long, clean and defect-free nanotubes. These DWNT fibers currently demonstrate record breaking strength and toughness even without irradiation treatment. Post synthesis e-beam treatment can modify the polymer matrix, its interaction with the nanotube surface and the density of covalent crosslinks to significantly enhance the strength and toughness of the resulting fiber, while retaining an acceptable level of flexibility that will allow various industrial applications.

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

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