AppliedNanotech,Inc.

SamuelKim,PhD
3006LonghornBlvd.,Suite107
Austin,TX78758
5123395020
UpdatedJuly19,2009
ImprovingMechanicalPropertiesof
Nanocomposites usingCarbonNanotubes
RusnanoForumOctober68,2009
TechnologyofMIndOverMatter
AppliedNanotech,Inc.
ANIIntroduction
AppliedNanotech,Inc.specializesinR&D
ofinnovativenanotechnology
applications.Wehavemorethan150
patentsand~100patentspending.
NanotechnologyR&Dwithemphasisin:
1) Nanoelectronics
2) Nanomaterials
3) Nanoecology
4) Nanosensors
5) CNTelectronemission
Foundedoriginally1988tocommercialize
fieldemissiondisplaytechnologies(FED)
AppliedNanotech,Inc.
ANIsBusinessModel
Threeprongedstrategy
1) IPlicensing fees,royalties
2) R&Dservices govt/industry
3) Technologycommercialization
equity,dividends
Newemphasisontechnology
commercialization
Greatercontrolofrevenuestream
Createjointventureswithstrategic
businesspartnersinsupplychain
Raisefundingfromprivate,public,
andcorporateinvestorstofund
commercializationactivities
Createstandalonesubsidiaries
companies
ANI
Technology
Commercialization
R&D
Services
IP
Licensing
Fees
Royalties
Govt
contracts
Corporate
funding
Equity
Dividends
AppliedNanotech,Inc.
ANIsR&DProcess
ProofofConcept
Fundamental
Science
Process
Development
Manufacturing
Engineering
Production
Processing
Services
I dea
PriorArt
Search
Simulation
Modeling
Evaluation
Feasibility Development Pilot
Manufacturing
Assembly
Characterization
Integration
Analytical
equipment
Reliability
Lifetime
Yield
Prototype
IP creation
IP protection IP licensing &
Commercialization
AppliedNanotech,Inc.
ANIsTechnologyDivisions
ANI
Nanomaterials
Nanoelectronics
Nanosensors
CNTElectron
Emission
Nanoecology
Division
Emphasis Applications
AppliedNanotech,Inc.
Background:UniquePropertiesofCNTs
Elasticmodulus:~1TPa (SWNT)~0.80.9TPa(MWNT);
Tensilestrength:~150GPa;150xofSteel(~0.651GPa)
Thermalconductivity:>1,500W/mK,muchhigherthan
Cu 400W/mK;
Electricalconductivity:BetterthanCu;
Elongationatbreak:~1623%;
Density:<1.2g/cm
3
forsinglewallCNTs,2.0g/cm
3
for
multiwallCNTs.
MWNTs areordersofmagnitudelessexpensivethan
SWNTs andDWNTs
MWNTs mosteconomicallyfeasiblematerialfor
reinforcementofpolymers
SWNT ~$30/g
DWNT ~$10/g
MWNT <$1/g (~$0.15-$0.3)
AppliedNanotech,Inc.
KeyTechnicalIssues
Dispersion of CNTs in polymer is required to uniformly
distribute load - not easily solved;
Functionalization of the CNTs required to form
strong covalent bonding between the CNTs and the
polymer matrix;
Translation of the improved properties in the resin to
improving the properties of the CFRP.
4 patents submitted to USPTO, in prosecution.
AppliedNanotech,Inc.
ANIsProprietaryDispersionProcess
Microfluidic processor uses high-pressure streams that collide at
ultra-high velocities in precisely defined micron-sized channels.
Combined forces of shear and impact act upon the clusters in the
mixture to create uniform dispersions.
CNT ropes and clusters can be dispersed into small ropes or even
individual CNTs using this process.
High shear
channel
High pressure inlet Low pressure inlet
CNT powders in acetone Dispersed CNTs in acetone
AppliedNanotech,Inc.
ResultsofDispersionProcess
Each solution contains 0.5g NH
2
-DWNTs + 200ml acetone
The picture was taken 1hr after the dispersion process
ANIs
microfluidic
dispersion
process
Ultrasonication
dispersion
process
AppliedNanotech,Inc.
CNTFunctionalization
NeedtocontroltheinteractionsbetweentheCNTs
andthepolymerchains.
Thestrengthoftheseinteractionsgoverntheload
transferefficiencyfromthepolymertotheCNTs.
Functionalization ofCNTsisneededinorderto
improvethemechanicalpropertiesofthe
composites
Linkagedirectlytothehostmatrix
AppliedNanotech,Inc.
ExamplesCNTFunctionalization
Epoxy Resin (Diglycidyl ether of Bisphenol-A) Cross-linked Epoxy Polymer CNT composite
Carboxyl (COOH-) Functionalization
Amine (NH2) Functionalization
AppliedNanotech,Inc.
COOHMWNTDispersionsatVariousLoadings
0.5wt.% 1.0wt.%
1.5wt.%
2.0wt.%
AppliedNanotech,Inc.
NH2DWNTDispersedResin
Excellent dispersion of DWNT in epoxy matrix achieved
NH2-DWNT reinforced epoxy at 1.8 wt.% loading
AppliedNanotech,Inc.
EpoxyCharacterization
UsedindustrystandardASTM
Flexuralstrengthandmodulus ASTMD790;
MTSServoHydraulicTestingSystem
Compressionstrength ASTMD695;
Impactstrength ASTMD256;
Vibrationdamping ASTME756;
SEM HitachiS4800FEIXL50HighResolutionSEM/STEM
systemforSEMimagingoffracturesurfaceofbothCNT
epoxyandCFRPnanocomposites.
AppliedNanotech,Inc.
EpoxyMechanicalPropertyResults
Material Compression
strength (MPa)
Flexural
strength
(MPa)
Flexural
modulus
(GPa)
Impact
strength
(J/m)
Vibration
damping
Neat Epon 828 125 116 3.18 270 0.331
DWNT (1.2 wt.%)/Epon 828 120 3.56
COOH-DWNT (1.2 wt.%)/Epon 828 137 3.70
NH
2
-DWNT(1.2 wt.%)/Epon 828 155 3.70 0.466
NH
2
-DWNT(0.5 wt.%)/Epon 828 139 3.26
NH
2
-DWNT(1.8 wt.%)/Epon 828 172 (39%) 165 (42%) 3.70 (16%) 355 (31%) 0.476 (44%)
COOH-MWNT (0.5 wt.%)/Epon 828 131 144 3.38
COOH-MWNT (0.75 wt.%)/Epon 828 138 151 3.57
COOH-MWNT (1.0 wt.%)/Epon 828 158 159 3.61
COOH-MWNT (1.25 wt.%)/Epon 828 170 162 3.70
COOH-MWNT (1.5 wt.%)/Epon 828 180 (44%) 168 (44%) 3.72 (16%)
COOH-MWNT (2.0 wt.%)/Epon 828 147 150 3.68
Values = Average
of 6-8 samples
+/ - 3%
uncertainty
AppliedNanotech,Inc.
Functionalizedvs.NonFunctionalized
COOH Functionalized MWNT
Non-Functionalized MWNT
MWNT pulled out
of host matrix at
break surface.
MWNT broken at
break surface.
AppliedNanotech,Inc.
EpoxyPerformanceTranslationtoCFRP
+
Carbon fiber Resin Prepreg
Laminate
(0/ 90 / 0/ 90 )
Enhanced properties in epoxy must be translated to more useful CFRP
format
Competitors show drastic enhancement of properties in epoxy but have
difficulty translating to CRFP
Due to agglomeration of CNTs
dispersion
impregnation between fibers
AppliedNanotech,Inc.
FlexuralTestingofCFRP
Average carbon fiber weight: 125 g/ m
2
;
Content of the carbon fiber: 60 Vol.%;
Content of the MWNT-COOH in the resin: 1.5 wt.%.
30% increase in load for
COOH-MWNT (1.5 wt.%)
CFRP compared to neat
epoxy CFRP.
18 % increase in flexural
modulus.
730.8N
958.8N
AppliedNanotech,Inc.
SEMofCOOHMWNTinCFRP
SEM images show that the MWNTs are well dispersed in-between the carbon fibers
Carbon fiber
Carbon fiber
AppliedNanotech,Inc.
SummaryofResultsforEpoxyandCFRP
MechanicalPropertiesofNeatEpoxyCFRP
ComparedtoCNTReinforcedCFRP
MechanicalPropertiesofNeatEpoxy
ComparedtoCNTReinforcedEpoxy
(CF:60Vol.%)
CombiningCNTswithepoxiesresultinimproved
mechanicalproperties
CNTEpoxyvs.NeatEpoxy
Compressionstrength=44%improvement
Flexuralstrength=44%improvement
Flexuralmodulus=16%improvement
Impactstrength=31%improvement
Vibrationdampingfactor=45%improvement
CNTEpoxyinCFRPvs.NeatEpoxyinCFRP
Flexuralstrength=30%improvement
Flexuralmodulus=16%improvement
AppliedNanotech,Inc.
NeatEpoxyGFRP
EpoxyPerformanceTranslationtoGFRP
MWNTEpoxyGFRP
AppliedNanotech,Inc.
FunctionalizedMWNTwerevery
welldispersedinthematrix
SurfaceofGFRPwithfunctionalized
MWNTepoxy
Result:FunctionalizedMWNTepoxy/glassfibercompositeachievedover40%
improvementoftheflexuralstrengthovertheneatepoxyglassfibercomposite.
AppliedNanotech,Inc.
Conclusions
MechanicalpropertiesofbothfunctionalizedDWNT andMWNTepoxy
nanocomposites wereevaluated.
Developedadispersionprocessthatenablesuniformdistribution ofthe
CNTs
Variousfunctionalization groupsweretested
COOH groupwasdeterminedtobemosteconomicallyfeasiblesolutionwithbest
performance
Demonstratedenhancedperformanceinepoxy/resinformbutalsothe
translationofthisperformancetothemoreusefulCFRP/GFRPformat
Currentlyscalingupourprocessesforlargescalemanufacturing ofCNT
reinforcedepoxies/resins
Wearecurrentlyworkingwithstrategicsupplychainpartnersto
commercializethetechnology
AppliedNanotech,Inc.
ThankYou
Pleasecontactforadditionalinformation:
SamuelKim,PhD.
DirectorofBusinessDevelopment
skim@appliednanotech.net
AppliedNanotech,Inc.
3006LonghornBlvd.
Austin,TX78758