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Nanoscale Materials Make for Large-Scale Applications
| Issue: |
2005 |
Category: |
Consumer/Home/Recreation |
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| Page: |
38-39 |
Center: |
Johnson Space Center, Marshall Space Flight Center |
| State: |
TX |
Manufacturer: |
Zyvex Corporation |
| Origin: |
Carbon Nanotube Radiation Shielding |
| Tech Terms: |
Carbon Nanotube, Composites, Fiber, Materials Science, Chemistry, Sports, |
| Abstract: |
| In 2001, Zyvex Corporation, of Richardson, Texas, developed a revolutionary method of changing carbon nanotube chemistry without harming the molecular structure that gives the carbon nanotubes their remarkable properties. In February 2003, Johnson Space Center recognized the promise of this technology and began working with Zyvex through a Phase I Small Business Innovation Research (SBIR) contract to develop the rational engineering of carbon nanotube surface chemistry. In the Phase I program, Zyvex not only demonstrated the ability to make high-concentration solutions of carbon nanotubes in organic solvents, but also demonstrated the ability to achieve excellent dispersion of the carbon nanotubes in polymers such as epoxy. These successes led to a Phase II SBIR contract with Johnson in January 2004, to build extremely strong and light hierarchical carbon nanotube-composite materials for NASA applications. Based on the successful results of the Phase I Johnson SBIR contract, Zyvex started offering solubilized carbon nanotubes, known commercially as NanoSolve, on its Web site in September 2003. Exactly a year later, in the midst of the Phase II SBIR work, Easton Sports announced the use of Zyvex carbon nanotube technology in its new line of bicycle parts. Easton Sports again looked to Zyvex and its NanoSolve technology in 2005, to take hockey and baseball equipment to the next level. |
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