Multifunctional Thermally and Electrically Conductive Carbon Nanotube-Polymer Hybrid Material

"Triton addresses the US Air Force need to develop multifunctional polymer nanotube composites and adhesives for aerospace applications requiring high electrical conductivity (EMI shielding for electronic packaging, stealth), thermal conductivity (thermalmanagement), and high strength (structural applications). Nanotube composite research has demonstrated that these materials can theoretically achieve high levels of thermal and electrical conductivity, as well as high strength providing huge reductions inweight over conventional composite systems. Difficulties in achieving substantial nanoparticle dispersion have prevented these materials from achieving these enhanced properties. Triton's nanotube composite research team has developed enablingchemistries and processing methods in which to homogeneously disperse these nanotubes to achieve significant improvements in the properties required to validate them for these applications. These techniques are truly cross platform, and will allow theiruse over a wide variety of polymer matrices and will result in materials that can be processed by traditional methods such as melt extrusion and spray coating. For the Phase I program, Triton will demonstrate the fabrication of well dispersed carbonnanotube polymer composites, which will exhibit isotropic electrical conductivity greater than 25 S/cm and thermal conductivity greater than 50 W/mK The carbon nanotube composite technology develope