Florida State University

TEAM: High Performance Materials Institute (HPMI)

TEAM MEMBERS:
Eric Rodriguez
Johnnattan Ugarte
John Wallace

FACULTY ADVISOR: Richard Liang

PRODUCT OR SERVICE: Buckypaper, a nanomaterial made from various nanoparticles such as single-walled nanotubes (SWNTs), along with two advanced processes to affordably mass produce the product. SWNTs have an extremely high elastic modulus and fierce resistance to failure, as well as a tensile strength higher than that of conventional carbon fibers. The High Performance Materials Institute (HPMI) team believes this positions SWNTs as the ultimate reinforcement in polymer composite materials. Furthermore, SWNTs have superior thermal conductivity and electrical conductivity than any metal in use today. When the nanotubes in buckypapers are aligned properly, they can be used in applications such as ‘smart’ materials, electromagnetic shielding, lightning strike protection, and liquid crystal display (LCD).

Lack of a continuous fabrication process for buckypapers has stunted this technology from reaching its potential. The HPMI team has devised a tandem of uninterrupted processes that optimize buckypaper fabrication. HPMI’s unique continuous buckypaper fabrication method offers an important material platform on which engineering applications can now be feasibly developed. Previous filtration systems produced buckypapers in batches of samples no larger than 8.5 inches by 8.5 inches, which is ineffective for utilizing the material on larger scales. Continuity in the material is essential for electrical conductivity and thermal conductivity uses, which the batch system cannot provide. HPMI’s system provides a continuous buckypaper production, limitless in length, which promises to make buckypaper fabrication feasible on the industrial scale.

Given the unique properties of carbon nanotubes and buckypapers (high strength and superior electrical and thermal conductivities), there are a multitude of applications for HPMI’s innovative technology such as electro-magnetic interference (EMI) shielding, lightning strike protection, heat dissipation, and LCD backlighting. These applications serve the needs of many key industries, including aerospace, computer display, defense, electronics and space. When applied to the exterior of aircrafts, buckypapers provide both EMI shielding, de-icing capabilities, and lightning strike protection. The defense industry is interested in buckypapers due to its potential ability to inhibit detection by radar. The electronics industry could benefit from the lightweight high thermal conductivity of buckypapers. LCD and large flat panel television manufacturers also will find potential in the use of buckypapers to reduce weight and life cycle cost.

The HPMI team received a $500 award as one of six finalists in the Nano I2P® Competition at Nano Nexus 2007, a nanotechnology conference hosted by Oak Ridge National Laboratory (ORNL) in Oak Ridge, Tennessee, on April 3, 2007. The conference brought together universities, entrepreneurs, and leaders of the nanotechnology industry in an effort to move nanotechnology out of research organizations and into the marketplace.

”We are doing something valuable,” said John Wallace, an M.B.A. candidate at Florida State. Now we know that other people believe it has value, also, and this conference has helped us figure out how to introduce it to the marketplace.”