Boron Nitride Nanotube Novel Thermal Management Materials Technologies for High Power Naval Systems Navy SBIR FY2018.1 Sol No.: Navy SBIR FY2018.1 Topic No.: N181-078 Topic Title: Boron Nitride Nanotube Novel Thermal Management Materials Technologies for High Power Naval Systems Proposal No.: N181-078-0446 Firm: BNNT, LLC 300 Ed Wright Lane, Suite A Newport News, Virginia 23606 Contact: R. Whitney Phone: (757) 876-1796 Web Site: http://www.bnnt.com Abstract: Increased performance requirements of high-power or high-frequency electronics require novel thermal management materials. Boron nitride nanotubes (BNNTs) enhance performance of polymer-based electrically-insulating thermal interface materials (TIMs). This work will incorporate BNNTs into common micro-particle polymer composites to increase thermal transport between particles. Thermal impedance within TIMs is dominated by resistivity of the polymer which holds the thermally-conductive particles together in the matrix. Typically, inter-particulate space is 20% of interfaces�?T volume. A multi-scale, bottoms-up approach to fabricating the filler material is expected to increase the thermal conductivity of many TIMs to above 10 W/mA�K. TIMs based on epoxy, cyanoacrylate, silicone, silicone oil, nylon multipolymer thermoplastic, and polytetrafluoroethylene matrices will be explored. Preliminary in-house work already dramatically increased thermal conductivity to nearly 6 W/mA�K in thermoplastics doped with BNNTs, implying an increase in inter-particle conductivity of ~20X. The TIMs produced in this study will be characterized for in- and through-plane thermal conductivity, and filler material development will be aided by scanning electron microscope imaging and surface area analysis of the densified powders to determine optimal ratios of components. The TIMs fabricated will be applicable within components, and as adhesives, pastes, top-side coatings, substrates, underfills, gap fillers, gap pads, and laminates. Benefits: By an anticipated 100X improvement in thermal conductivity of electrically-insulating polymers, performance-limiting heat can be extracted from electronics, even deep within integrated circuits and packages in spaces narrower than 50 A�m. Benefits will include improving performance, increasing efficiency, lengthening lifetime, and reducing lifecycle/O&M costs. The resultant enhancements will reduce stress on power systems (including system batteries), and even reduce risk of fires. These innovations will be broadly commercialized across the electronics industry, including naval and other defense systems, and will enable new systems previously prevented by heat management barriers. Return