Patent — available for licensing
Carbon Fiber-Carbon Nanotube Yarn Hybrid Reinforcement
A NASA invention available to explore as a licensing opportunity.
About this technology
Overview
Innovators at the NASA Glenn Research Center have developed a toughened hybrid reinforcement material made from carbon fiber and carbon nanotube (CNT) yarn for use in polymer matrix composites (PMCs). The new material improves toughness and damping properties of PMCs, enhancing impact resistance, fatigue life, and structural longevity. Historically, PMCs have provided insufficient toughness for some aerospace structures. Rubber toughening agents and thermoplastics are often employed to increase material toughness, but such additives increase viscosity of polymer resins and increase processing difficulty and cost. Other reinforcements like aramids exist, but also have inherent issues (e.g., Kevlar absorbs moisture which adds weight and is susceptible to degradation upon UV exposure). NASA's new carbon fiber-CNT yarn hybrid material displays excellent toughness and strength for reinforcing PMC materials while also mitigating issues associated with current hybrid reinforcements like rubber, thermoplastics, and aramids.