Applied Nanotech Holdings declared that it has received the Phase I SBIR grant from the US Department of Energy amounting to $149,426 to advance extremely less weight hydrogen fuel tanks applying carbon nanotube reinforcement.
The company received the award for a nine month program with the prime motive to considerably advance the mechanical properties of epoxy material or carbon fiber that is being used in the manufacture of hydrogen fuel tanks by undertaking carbon nanotube reinforcement. The main aim was to decrease 20 to 30% of the tank’s weight. By reducing the weight of hydrogen fuel tanks, the company enables reduction in the cost of these tanks, as well as makes the vehicle more fuel-efficient.
Hydrogen pressure vessels are expensive due to the costly carbon fiber used in tank manufacturing. If carbon nanotubes are incorporated into the resin matrix, the resin will absorb much of the heavy load, which is presently done by the carbon fiber reinforcement. Such type of carbon nanotube resins will definitely minimize the volume of the carbon fiber required to produce a hydrogen fuel tank. This technique will not only provide a significant reduction in the price of vehicles, but also enable production of light weight, fuel-efficient vehicles causing a regulated change over in supply chain and manufacturing process.
Applied Nanotech has enhanced carbon fiber and glass fiber reinforcement by developing carbon nanotube reinforced vinyl esters, epoxies, and polyesters. Their application can be viewed in a number of products such as automotive, aerospace, ballistics, sporting goods, renewable energy and others.
Source: www.appliednanotech.net