SBIR Phase I: Thermal Spray of Nanocomposites

This Small Business Innovation Research (SBIR) Phase I project will demonstrate the feasibility of an advanced technology for the direct formation and deposition of nanocomposite polymer coatings and films. The technology encompasses the use of novel thermal spray techniques that are solventless and that may also be developed for use in directly forming functionally-graded nanocomposite materials and near-net-shape thermoplastic nanocomposites. The objective is to demonstrate the feasibility of using an advanced thermal spray process to directly melt-blend and form nanocomposite coatings and films. Experimental work will be conducted to spray coat nanomaterials onto a substrate, followed by an evaluation of the sprayed material properties for suitability as an advanced nanocomposite coating material. The proposed technology addresses the global interest in nanostructured polymeric materials that have significantly improved performance properties over conventional polymeric materials. This technology has direct application in the powder coating industry, where thermoset and thermoplastic materials are sprayed for a broad range of applications, which include coatings on automobiles, appliance coatings, architectural coatings to a broad range of general metal finishing uses