Conductive Multifunctional Polymer-Nanotube Hybrids

This SBIR Phase II program will continue research and development of carbon nanotubes for conductive polymer hybrids. The objective is to develop a multifunctional composite material with significant thermal and electrical conductivity for shielding,electrostatic discharge, thermal management, and energy storage and conversion applications. The approach to the high conductivity is via establishing a carbon nanotube network with effective inter- as well as intra-tube transport property in the polymermatrix. Feasibility of this approach was demonstrated in Phase I program. Resulting polymer-nanotube hybrids exhibited electrical conductivity above 200 S/cm with 15 vol.% loading of nanotubes. They also achieved substantially enhanced thermalconductivity. Proposed Phase II efforts include optimizing the processing conditions and developing a process for manufacturing the conductive polymer hybrids in pilot scales. The polymer hybrid material will also be processed into shaped articles usingconventional extrusion and molding techniques. Their thermal, mechanical, electrical, and morphological properties will be characterized to confirm their processing, structure and property relationships.