Patent — available for licensing
Vertically Aligned Carbon Nanotubes
A NASA invention available to explore as a licensing opportunity.
About this technology
Overview
Innovators at NASA’s Glenn Research Center have developed a polymer matrix composite composed of layers that alternate between a thin carbon fiber veil layer coated with nanotubes and a thicker base carbon fiber reinforcement layer. The alternating fiber layers are held together by a curable epoxy resin. The resulting composite material provides improved interlaminar strength, fracture toughness and impact resistance. The carbon fiber veils can be evenly distributed throughout the composite or targeted to specific areas of a part that are likely to require reinforcement. For example, veils can be selectively situated at a leading edge of a wind turbine blade, a helicopter blade, an engine component, an air foil, or an aircraft nose section. Since the veils themselves do not impart strength or stiffness to the composite structure, any damage to the veils does not affect the integrity of the composite structure. The embedded carbon nanotubes can provide through thickness thermal and electrical conductivity. The electrically conductive nature of the nanocomposite veils allows for their application for added lightning strike protection and electromagnetic protection.