SBIR Phase I: Interphase Development for Nanofiber Reinforced Thermoplastic Composites

This Small Business Innovation Research (SBIR) Phase I project will create nanofiber reinforced thermoplastics as an economical composite for use in structural components. Carbon nanofibers have superior and highly touted intrinsic mechanical properties to contribute to reinforcement of composites. However, their extremely small size, and thus high surface to volume ratio, makes attainment of a strong interface crucial to transferring the intrinsic nanofiber properties to the composite as a whole. Starting from a knowledge base developed under a prior NIST ATP program, this project will further develop methods of nanofiber surface modification and characterization to solve the interface problem, promote solid adhesion between the nanofibers and thermoplastic matrix materials, and create and test the first practical nanofiber reinforced composits for structural materials. Nanofiber reinforced thermoplastics will result in lighter, less expensive structural composites for applications in automobiles, sporting goods and aerospace vehicles. The use of thermoplastics will reduce material costs relative to thermoset composites, and permit economical injection molding processes to be used. Also, electrostatic painting processes will be enabled, reducing the emission of solvents and other unwanted effluents