NASA Langley Research Center in Hampton, VA solicits interest from companiesinterested in obtaining license rights to commercialize, manufacture and market thefollowing technology. License rights may be issued on an exclusive or nonexclusive basisand may include specific fields of use. THE TECHNOLOGY: NASA Langley researchers have developed an extensive technology portfolio on novelmethods for effective dispersion of carbon nanotubes (CNTs) in polymers. The technologyportfolio extends from making stable dispersions of CNTs in polymer resins to processesfor making composite CNT/polymer films and articles. The technologies apply to a range ofpolymer types, enable low or high CNT loadings as needed, and can be used with a varietyof standard polymer processing methods, including melt processing. Currently, thetechnology is being used commercially for electrically conductive polymer films forcomponents in electronic printers and copiers. The technology portfolio spans several methods for dispersion and processing of CNTs inpolymer resins and composites. CNT/resin systems with high dispersion and long-termstability are provided by three general approaches. One method relies on mechanicaldispersion by sonication simultaneous with partial polymerization to increase the resinviscosity to maintain dispersion and enable further polymer processing of the CNT blendinto films and other articles. Another approach relies on what is termed donor acceptorbonding, which essentially is a dipole bond created on the CNT/resin interface tomaintain dispersion and stability of the CNT/resin blend. This dispersion method alsoprovides advantages in mechanical properties of processed composites due to the interfacecharacteristics. A range of polymer types can be used, including polymethyl methacrylate,polyimide, polyethylene, and others. An additional dry blending approach provides advantages for a variety of thermoplasticand thermoset systems. Use of ball mill mixing achieves effective blending and dispersionof the CNT, even at high loadings. Further processing steps using injection molding orsimilar melt processing methods have yielded CNT/polymer composites with a range ofuseful electronic, optical, and mechanical properties.To express interest in this opportunity, please respond to Sean Sullivan at: NASA LangleyResearch Center, 17 West Taylor St., Mail Stop 218, Building 1212, Room 110 Hampton,Virginia, E-mail:
[email protected], or phone: 757-864-5055. Please indicate thedate and title of the FBO notice and include your company and contact information.Contracting Office Address: NASA Langley Research Center17 West Taylor Street, Mail Stop 218Building 1212, Room 110Hampton, VA 23689-2199Primary Point of Contact: Sean SullivanNASA Langley Research
[email protected]: 757-864-5055