Composite materials reinforced with carbon nanotube yarns

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-9233492-B2
Application number	US-201113271947-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	Oct 12, 2011
Priority date	Oct 12, 2010
Publication date	Jan 12, 2016
Grant date	Jan 12, 2016

Abstract

Composite materials are provided that include one or more CNT yarns embedded in a matrix material. The composite materials may be transparent. Methods for making the composite materials are also provided. The composite materials may be made by arranging at least one CNT yarn into a desired pattern and embedding the at least one CNT yarn into a matrix material.

First claim

We claim:

1. A composite material comprising:
a transparent matrix material in the form of a sheet, and
two or more carbon nanotube (CNT) yarns embedded in the matrix material,
wherein the two or more CNT yarns are arranged in a cross pattern in the sheet of the matrix material, and
wherein the composite material has a transmittance which is greater than 40% in the visible region of the electromagnetic spectrum.

2. The composite material of claim 1 , wherein the two or more CNT yarns comprises at least a two-fold yarn.

3. The composite material of claim 1 , wherein the two or more CNT yarns are bundled together.

4. The composite material of claim 3 , wherein the two or more CNT yarns comprise a rope or cable.

5. The composite material of claim 3 , wherein the two or more CNT yarns are not twisted together.

6. The composite material of claim 1 , wherein the two or more CNT yarns are a woven fabric.

7. The composite material of claim 6 , wherein the distances between individual CNT yarns in the woven fabric allow visible light to pass through the fabric.

8. The composite material of claim 1 , wherein carbon nanotubes in each of the two or more CNT yarns are bonded together by chemical bonds.

9. The composite material of claim 1 , wherein the matrix material comprises a polymeric material.

10. The composite material of claim 9 , wherein the polymeric material comprises polycarbonate, poly(methylmethacrylate), polyethylene terephthalate, polybutylene terephthalate, poly(vinyl alcohol), epoxy resin, glass, or a combination thereof.

11. The composite material of claim 1 , wherein the content of CNT yarn in the composite material is from about 0.1 wt % to about 30 wt %.

12. A composite material comprising:
a transparent thermoplastic polymeric matrix material in the form of a sheet; and
two or more carbon nanotube (CNT) yarns embedded in the sheet of the matrix material and arranged in a cross pattern therein,
wherein the composite material has a transmittance which is greater than 40% in the visible region of the electromagnetic spectrum.

13. The composite material of claim 12 , wherein the composite material has a CNT yarn content which is from 10 wt % to 30 wt %.

14. A composite material comprising:
a transparent matrix material in the form of a sheet; and
a woven or non-woven fabric, comprising two or more carbon nanotube (CNT) yarns, which is embedded in the sheet of the matrix material, and the content of the CNT yarn in the composite material is from 10 wt % to 30 wt %,
wherein the matrix material is partially infiltrated into CNT yarns and forms cross-links inside the CNT yarns, and
wherein the composite material has an average transmittance which is greater than 10% in the visible region of the electromagnetic spectrum.

Assignees

• Zhang Mei
• Zhang Hang
• Wang Ben
• Liang Richard
• Zhang Chuck
• Univ Florida State Res Found

Inventors

• Zhang Mei
• Zhang Hang
• Wang Ben
• Liang Richard
• Zhang Chuck

Classifications

• B29C45/0005 Primary

  using fibre reinforcements · CPC title

• C03C2214/06

  Whiskers ss · CPC title

• D02G3/441

  Yarns or threads with antistatic, conductive or radiation-shielding properties (electroconductive, anti-static or radiation-shielding filaments D01F1/09, D01F1/106; anti-static fabrics D03D15/533; conducting, insulating or anti-static layers for floor coverings D06N7/0042) · CPC title

• B29K2105/167

  Nanotubes · CPC title

• H01B1/24

  the conductive material comprising carbon-silicon compounds, carbon or silicon · CPC title