Florida State HPMI to
scale up buckypaper
production
R
esearch at Florida State University���s
High-Performance Materials Institute (HPMI, Tallahassee, Fla.) has
focused for some time on development
of buckypaper ��� ���at sheet material
made of compressed carbon nanotubes
(CNTs). HPMI reported in November that
the previously experimental material
now shows promise for a variety of realworld applications.
Although HPMI now can produce
buckypaper only in small quantities at
a high price, Frank Allen, HPMI operations director, says researchers are looking to scale up production with a prototype batch process that would produce
buckypaper strips at a rate of 5 ft/min
(1.52m/min). HPMI says the electrically
conductive material could replace metal
lightning-strike mesh on aircraft, and its
extraordinary strength-to-weight ratio
could make aerostructures stronger and
lighter. HPMI reports that it cuts and machines the buckypaper-based composite
with an OMAX (Kent, Wash.) 55100 waterjet cutting machine.
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carbonfiberovens.com
january 2013
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