Chemical modification of carbon nanotubes [Express]

Highlights

Available technologies provide processes for cost effective, scalable production of chemically modified Carbon Nanotubes (CNT). The unique technologies allow for controlled chemical functionalization of CNT for successful integration into thermosets, thermoplastics and elastomers, resulting in the enhancement in material properties.

Technology transfer

This technology is available for licensing. There is an opportunity for this invention to be developed for particular applications and for demonstration of the final product through a collaborative research project. The business opportunity may be referred to by their NRC IDs: 11880, 11884 and 12283.

Market applications

Applications for nanotubes are numerous in all sectors where composites are needed. Successful applications require chemical modifications and these can be done using the offered technologies. With economical production of carbon nanotubes and their incorporation into advanced materials, the invented technologies will open a whole new world of possibilities for an array of industrial applications.

How it works

Carbon nanotubes have the best mechanical, electrical and thermal properties of any known material. They hold great promise for many technologies and applications. Technologies presented here provide an economical way to scale up chemical modifications of single, double and multi wall nanotubes (SWCNT, DWCNT and MWCNT) for integration into thermosets, thermoplastics and elastomers. Our solutions provide a number of methods for attaching functional compounds to carbon nanotubes. For example, attached compounds can be block polymers to adjust plasticity. Furthermore, side walls of carbon nanotubes can be chemically modified to form a polymer-coated CNT. The polymer shell of the modified CNT can covalently connect to another polymer, allowing for effective integration into a variety of advanced composite materials. These methodologies are the first to modify CNTs and allow for their integration into composites without modifying their mechanical and electrical properties, without isolation of intermediaries and without addition of any catalysts to form the polymer shell.

Benefits

• Cost effective
• Scalable
• 100 times faster than prior production methods
• Highly controllable