| Patent application number | Description | Published |
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| 20080286560 | HIGHLY CONDUCTIVE ELECTRICAL WIRES AND CONDUCTIVE STRIPS HAVING A REDUCED WEIGHT - An electrical conductor is described that includes a plurality of nano-scale material elements and a resin matrix, wherein the nano-scale material elements are aligned within the resin matrix. A method for fabricating such a conductor is also described. | 11-20-2008 |
| 20090027069 | FUNCTIONALIZED CARBON NANOTUBE-POLYMER COMPOSITES AND INTERACTIONS WITH RADIATION - The present invention involves the interaction of radiation with functionalized carbon nanotubes that have been incorporated into various host materials, particularly polymeric ones. The present invention is directed to chemistries, methods, and apparatuses which exploit this type of radiation interaction, and to the materials which result from such interactions. The present invention is also directed toward the time dependent behavior of functionalized carbon nanotubes in such composite systems. | 01-29-2009 |
| 20090099276 | FUNCTIONALIZED CARBON NANOTUBE-POLYMER COMPOSITES AND INTERACTIONS WITH RADIATION - The present invention involves the interaction of radiation with functionalized carbon nanotubes that have been incorporated into various host materials, particularly polymeric ones. The present invention is directed to chemistries, methods, and apparatuses which exploit this type of radiation interaction, and to the materials which result from such interactions. The present invention is also directed toward the time dependent behavior of functionalized carbon nanotubes in such composite systems. | 04-16-2009 |
| 20090104386 | ORIENTED NANOFIBERS EMBEDDED IN A POLYMER MATRIX - A method of forming a composite of embedded nanofibers in a polymer matrix is disclosed. The method includes incorporating nanofibers in a plastic matrix forming agglomerates, and uniformly distributing the nanofibers by exposing the agglomerates to hydrodynamic stresses. The hydrodynamic said stresses force the agglomerates to break apart. In combination or additionally elongational flow is used to achieve small diameters and alignment. A nanofiber reinforced polymer composite system is disclosed. The system includes a plurality of nanofibers that are embedded in polymer matrices in micron size fibers. A method for producing nanotube continuous fibers is disclosed. Nanofibers are fibrils with diameters 100 nm, multiwall nanotubes, single wall nanotubes and their various functionalized and derivatized forms. The method includes mixing a nanofiber in a polymer; and inducing an orientation of the nanofibers that enables the nanofibers to be used to enhance mechanical, thermal and electrical properties. Orientation is induced by high shear mixing and elongational flow, singly or in combination. The polymer may be removed from said nanofibers, leaving micron size fibers of aligned nanofibers. | 04-23-2009 |
| 20100015002 | Processing of Single-Walled Carbon Nanotube Metal-Matrix Composites Manufactured by an Induction Heating Method - In some embodiments, the present invention is directed to a new composition of matter. Such a composition generally comprises a functionalized single-wall carbon nanotube (SWNT) which is coated with a metal that would not react with carbon at elevated temperatures. The metal-coated tube is incorporated into a metal matrix that could potentially form carbides. In some or other embodiments, the present invention is directed to methods of making such compositions. | 01-21-2010 |
| 20100113696 | METHODS FOR PREPARING CARBON NANOTUBE/POLYMER COMPOSITES USING FREE RADICAL PRECURSORS - In some embodiments, the present invention is directed to methods of fully integrating CNTs and the surrounding polymer matrix in CNT/polymer composites. In some such embodiments, such integration comprises interfacial covalent bonding between the CNTs and the polymer matrix. In some such embodiments, such interfacial covalent bonding is provided by a free radical reaction initiated during processing. In some such embodiments, such free radical initiation can be provided by benzoyl peroxide. In some or other embodiments, the present invention is directed to CNT/polymer composite systems, wherein the CNTs within such systems are covalently integrated with the polymer. In some or other embodiments, the present invention is directed to articles of manufacture made from such CNT/polymer composite systems. | 05-06-2010 |
| 20100143701 | Fiber-Reinforced Polymer Composites Containing Functionalized Carbon Nanotubes - The present invention is directed to methods of integrating carbon nanotubes into epoxy polymer composites via chemical functionalization of carbon nanotubes, and to the carbon nanotube-epoxy polymer composites produced by such methods. Integration is enhanced through improved dispersion and/or covalent bonding with the epoxy matrix during the curing process. In general, such methods involve the attachment of chemical moieties (i.e., functional groups) to the sidewall and/or end-cap of carbon nanotubes such that the chemical moieties react with either the epoxy precursor(s) or the curing agent(s) (or both) during the curing process. Additionally, in some embodiments, these or additional chemical moieties can function to facilitate dispersion of the carbon nanotubes by decreasing the van der Waals attractive forces between the nanotubes. | 06-10-2010 |
| 20110201764 | POLYMER/CARBON-NANOTUBE INTERPENETRATING NETWORKS AND PROCESS FOR MAKING SAME - The present invention is directed to new methods for combining, processing, and modifying existing materials, resulting in novel products with enhanced mechanical, electrical and electronic properties. The present invention provides for polymer/carbon nanotube composites with increased strength and toughness; beneficial for lighter and/or stronger structural components for terrestrial and aerospace applications, electrically and thermally conductive polymer composites, and electrostatic dissipative materials. Such composites rely on a molecular interpenetration between entangled single-wall carbon nanotubes (SWNTs) and cross-linked polymers to a degree not possible with previous processes. | 08-18-2011 |
