SWCNT Technology Accelerator Centre

NRC’s integrated approach to creating next-generation materials provides a “One-Stop Shop” for the synthesis, characterization, metrology and the chemical integration of single-wall carbon nanotubes (SWCNT), through to the fabrication and prototyping of real-world applications. The new Facility at the Montreal Road Campus in Ottawa scales up SWCNT production to unprecedented levels of up to 2 grams a minute!

Just the SWCNT facts

  • Unparalleled mechanical properties (strength, stiffness and toughness) – 100x stronger than steel at 1/6th the weight
  • Can be spun into fibers and yarns
  • Can make papers and film
  • High Electrical Conductivity – orders of magnitude better than copper
  • High Thermal Conductivity – among the highest of any known material
  • High Chemical Stability
  • Unique electronic and optical characteristics
  • Biocompatible features
  • Enhanced flame retardant abilities
  • Reduction of mechanical failures and elimination of electro magnetic interference (EMI).
  • And, as little as 0.1% by weight of SWCNT can be enough to take advantage of some of these amazing properties.

SWCNT production

Three unique processes have been developed for synthesizing SWCNT.

  • NRC uses chemical vapour deposition (CVD) processes to produce unprocessed luminescent nanotubes, luminescent networks of nanotubes, and photo- and electroluminescent nanotube field effect transistors.
  • A laser vaporization process is used to produce the highest purity and quality as-synthesized SWCNT yet reported at quantities up to a few grams per day.
  • In collaboration with the Université de Sherbrooke, NRC has extrapolated the laser process to a new “Radio-Frequency (RF) Induction Plasma Process” capable of producing SWCNT material with the same properties of the laser material, but on a larger scale. The process is unique to the world and based on an industrially proven technology with a production capacity of one kilogram per day!

Large-scale SWCNT production

NRC’s SWCNT Technology Accelerator Centre scales up SWCNT production using the RF induction plasma process – a first step along the chain of developing SWCNT composite materials from R&D to product.

Characterization

Characterization is central in the development of advanced materials based on nanotubes and NRC has all the necessary tools and expertise to characterize nanotubes, from their synthesis through to the final composites. These tools include TGA-MS-FTIR, UV-VIS-NIR, SEM, XRD, NMR, AFM and ICP-OES, particle sizing, conductivity measurements, PLE, PL, Raman, global Raman, and more, all geared for the full chemical and physical analysis and characterization of SWCNT and SWCNT-based materials.

Standards and metrology

NRC-INMS is producing reference materials for SWCNT which will be characterized for a number of physico-chemical properties. There is a critical need for credible reference materials for validation of measurement results and the ongoing evaluation of health and environmental concerns related to nanotechnology. Scientists are addressing this shortcoming by developing tools and techniques for accurate measurement and standardization. INMS has well-established expertise in the production and dissemination of Certified Reference Materials. Laboratories in Canada and around the world will benefit from these stable SWCNT references by using them as performance benchmarks for product quality and evaluation.

Chemistry

Chemistry allows researchers at the NRC-SIMS to control the final properties of matrices in SWCNT-modified composite materials. Shown here are SWCNT-loaded epoxy samples with the same final SWCNT loading but different interfacial bonding.

SIMS has developed various methods for adding active chemical functionalities to the SWCNT to tailor them for individual applications. In particular, SWCNT can be integrated in thermosets, thermoplastics and inorganic materials such as ceramics and metals with excellent transfer of properties. Processes for the preparation of neat SWCNT fibers, sheets and films have also been developed. Since some applications can be sensitive to the presence of the impurities that are inherently present in SWCNT, a number of rapid procedures were created to remove the impurities without modifying the structure or properties.

Just a few “SWNCT” applications under investigation at NRC

  • Light-weight armour materials to protect soldiers and security personnel against improvised explosive devices (IEDs).
  • Enhanced sporting equipment to strengthen hockey sticks and protective gear making them lighter or resistant to breakage
  • Nano-modified adhesives for bonding full-scale structures in the aerospace and automotive industries
  • Integrated sensing and health monitoring of airframe structures
  • Electronic and optoelectronics devices based on SWCNT
  • Development of multi-functional polymers and composites
  • Applications in transportation using light-weight carbon-based composites for further performance improvement and more functionalities
  • Highly conductive SWCNT for energy efficient applications
  • Enhancement of paper products making them more fire retardant and electrically conductive

Performance & testing

NRC has proven engineering expertise for materials design, pilotscale formulation, fabrication and testing. Mechanical and physical properties of SWCNT-modified polymers and fibrous composites must be fully understood before practical application in components and structures can effectively be realized. For example, NRC-IAR has been working on mechanical and physical performance characterization of SWCNT-modified polymers and fibrous composites at multiple size scales including constituents, composite laminates and structural elements. Tests of fibre-reinforced composite laminates demonstrate that fracture toughness and low-speed impact behaviour of CRFP systems can be increased by adding only 0.1% (by wt.) of SWCNT.