TECHNOLOGY TRANSFER OPPORTUNITY: Functionalization of Single-Wall Carbon Nanotubes (LEW-TOPS-64)

NASA's Technology Transfer Program solicits inquiries from companies interested in obtaining license rights to commercialize, manufacture and market the following technology. License rights may be issued on an exclusive or nonexclusive basis and may include specific fields of use. NASA provides no funding in conjunction with these potential licenses . THE TECHNOLOGY: A new technique for carbon nanotube oxidation based upon the photo-oxidation of organic compounds was developed by NASA's Glenn Research Center. Single-wall carbon nanotubes (SWCNTs) have a nearly fivefold higher Young's modulus, a tenfold higher tensile strength, and three times the elongation at break of conventional carbon fibers. In addition, they have electrical and thermal conductivities that are nearly ten times that of high conductivity carbon fibers. Use of SWCNTs as additives to polymers has been shown to significantly increase their mechanical, electrical, and thermal properties. Functionalization of single-wall carbon nanotubes improves their ability to be incorporated into polymer matrices and enhances their bonding with the matrix. NASA Glenn's new technique for carbon nanotube oxidation was developed upon the photo-oxidation of organic compounds. The resulting method is more benign than conventional oxidation approaches and produces SWCNTs with higher levels of oxidation. To express interest in this opportunity, please submit a license application through NASA's Automated Technology Licensing Application System (ATLAS) by visiting https://technology.nasa.gov/apply/license/LEW-TOPS-64 If you have any questions, please contact NASA Glenn's Technology Transfer Office at [email protected] with the title of this Technology Transfer Opportunity as listed in this FBO notice and your preferred contact information. For more information about licensing other NASA-developed technologies, please visit the NASA Technology Transfer Portal at https://technology.nasa.gov/ These responses are provided to members of NASA's Technology Transfer Program for the purpose of promoting public awareness of NASA-developed technology products, and conducting preliminary market research to determine public interest in and potential for future licensing opportunities. No follow-on procurement is expected to result from responses to this Notice .