Carbon Nanotubes for Electromagnetic Interference Shielding

This STTR Phase I Program will test a processing scheme for fabricating a polymer-based nanocomposite material with significant electrical conductivity for electromagnetic interference (EMI) shielding of electronic components and signal wires. The highconductivity of the nanocomposite material is introduced by a nanophase inclusion of a class of cost-effective vapor-grown carbon nanotubes. In this Phase I research, films of the nanocomposite material will be prepared with varying loadings of the carbonnanotubes in choice polymers. The electrical, mechanical and morphological properties of these films will be characterized in relation to their carbon nanotubes content. The conductive, polymer-based nanocomposite material is expected to have advantagesover metal shields in flexibility, space and weight savings, mechanical strength and durability, and tailored thermal and electrical conductivity. It has potential for advanced on-board shielding of electronic components and flexible electronics.Theproposed research offers a simple and yet effective method for producing a flexible, lightweight, polymer-based conductive nanocomposite material using cost-effective carbon nanotubes. This conductive nanocomposite material is multifunctional. It can beused in coatings, caulks, sealant and adhesives, and manufactured into fibers, films, sheets, tubes, and large structural components for applications in EMI shielding, electrostatic painting of panels, electrostatic discharge, corrosion prevention, thermalmanagement, and electro-optical devices such as photovoltaic solar cells.