Grantee Research Project Results
Enabling Electrostatic Painting of Automotive Polymers with Low Cost Carbon Nanofibers
EPA Contract Number: EPD06037Title: Enabling Electrostatic Painting of Automotive Polymers with Low Cost Carbon Nanofibers
Investigators: Burton, David
Small Business: Applied Sciences, Inc.
EPA Contact: Richards, April
Phase: I
Project Period: March 1, 2006 through August 31, 2006
Project Amount: $69,924
RFA: Small Business Innovation Research (SBIR) - Phase I (2006) RFA Text | Recipients Lists
Research Category: Small Business Innovation Research (SBIR) , Safer Chemicals , SBIR - Pollution Prevention
Description:
Polymer composites are used widely for automotive body panels to save weight, increase fuel efficiency, and eliminate corrosion. Unlike metals, however, structural polymers are not conductive electrically; thus, they are not amenable to the industry standard technique of electrostatic spray painting (ESP). Current methods for adapting polymers to ESP pose serious environmental and economic challenges. Polymers must be coated with a conductive primer requiring the use of environmentally detrimental solvents (volatile organic compounds or VOCs). There are significant capital and operating costs associated with handling and disposal of the primer and its byproducts. Automotive manufacturers must either maintain two separate paint lines (one for metals and one for polymers) or use inefficient offline painting. This is an expensive proposition, because automotive paint lines cost as much as $400 million. A simple, solvent-free method is needed to endow polymers with sufficient electrical conductivity to be painted in the same manner as metals.
Applied Science, Inc. (ASI) will overcome these challenges by a dispersing small amount of carbon nanofiber (CNF) in automotive polymers to give them sufficient electrical conductivity for ESP. ASI’s approach will overcome drawbacks of past attempts to use fillers, such as carbon black and carbon fibers, to produce electrically conductive structural polymers. These strategies failed because carbon black degraded mechanical properties and the thick carbon fibers compromised surface finish. CNF, stronger and more conductive than carbon black and 100 times smaller than the carbon fibers, will provide conductivity at extremely low loading and maintain a class-A finish.
The technical challenge associated with this approach is achieving the appropriate electrical conductivity and minimal nanofiber concentrations. ASI will use a number of strategies to overcome this challenge, including: controlling CNF surface chemistry, optimizing blending techniques, and exploiting synergies between CNF and other composite constituents.
The innovation could produce substantial environmental and economic benefits. According to a recent government study, the ability to electrostatically paint automotive polymers has a net present value of $500 million. This technology also would eliminate about 0.23 pounds of VOCs per vehicle. Beyond automotives, this technology also could be used to produce trucks, boats, aircraft, household appliances, and sporting goods.
ASI’s commercialization efforts will be bolstered by its existing relationships with automotive original equipment manufacturers (OEMs), such as General Motors, and their suppliers. During Phase I, ASI will work with one of these entities to expedite the insertion of this innovation into a high-end niche transportation market.
Publications and Presentations:
Publications have been submitted on this project: View all 1 publications for this projectSupplemental Keywords:
small business, SBIR, electrostatic spray painting, auto painting, ESP, polymer composites, carbon nanotubes, environmentally detrimental solvents, volatile organic compounds, VOC, carbon nanofiber, automotive industry, EPA,, RFA, Scientific Discipline, Sustainable Industry/Business, Environmental Chemistry, Sustainable Environment, Technology for Sustainable Environment, Environmental Engineering, automotive coating, electrostatic spray painting, environmentally benign coating, nanocoatings, nanocomposite, air pollution control, nanotechnology, VOC removal, emission controls, nanomaterials, nanofiberProgress and Final Reports:
SBIR Phase II:
Enabling Electrostatic Painting of Automotive Polymers With Low Cost Carbon Nanofibers | Final ReportThe perspectives, information and conclusions conveyed in research project abstracts, progress reports, final reports, journal abstracts and journal publications convey the viewpoints of the principal investigator and may not represent the views and policies of ORD and EPA. Conclusions drawn by the principal investigators have not been reviewed by the Agency.