NSF Award
9501730
*** 9501730 Ashford This Small Business Innovation Research Phase II project will develop electronic diagnostics and novel high-velocity electroflocking for advanced materials fabrication. Low-velocity electroflocking is a common textile technology used in the manufacture of pile fabrics such as nylon velour. Electrostatics are used to position large numbers of short fibers ("flock") on and partially into surfaces. To be useful in the production of engineered fiber composite materials, electroflocking must be extended to enable - high packing fractions - highly oriented flock that is strictly vertical - bulk processing of fiber and whisker materials made of carbon, ceramic or metal Phase I demonstrated the feasibility of strobe video diagnostics and higher velocity electroflocker design. Phase II will continue hardware development, velocity diagnostics, process modeling, fiber implantation development, and process scale up. Commercial applications in reinforcements, interface conductance and optical properties will be pursued. Novel oriented, non-woven fiber composite materials having tailored thermal, dielectric and mechanical properties will result. Potential applications exist for: reinforced materials, non-reflective coatings, microchannel heat exchangers, high conductance ceramics, plasma-facing materials, radar absorbing materials, and carbon electrodes. ***
