Multilayer system having reconfigurable dynamic structure reinforcement using nanoparticle embedded supramolecular adhesive and method

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-9557479-B2
Application number	US-201514739128-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	Jun 15, 2015
Priority date	Jun 15, 2015
Publication date	Jan 31, 2017
Grant date	Jan 31, 2017

Abstract

Methods, systems and apparatuses are disclosed comprising a tunable multilayered array reinforcement system having a supramolecular adhesive embedded with nanoparticles that are reoriented on-demand in response to or in advance of vibrational effects in a moving or stationary structure.

First claim

What is claimed is:

1. A method for changing the stiffness of a structure comprising the steps of:
activating a multilayer system in the structure, said multilayer system comprising:
a first layer comprising an adhesive embedded with nanoparticles, said adhesive have a first modulus value, and said nanoparticles oriented in a first orientation;
a second layer proximate to the first layer, said second layer comprising a light activation system; and
an energy input in communication with an energy source and said energy input in communication with the first adhesive layer;

producing light in the second layer;
directing light produced by the second layer to the first layer;
altering the modulus of the adhesive from said first modulus value to a second modulus value;
delivering energy from the energy source to the first adhesive layer via the energy input; and
changing the orientation of the nanoparticles in the first layer.

2. The method of claim 1 , wherein the adhesive comprises a supramolecular adhesive compound.

3. The method of claim 2 , wherein the supramolecular adhesive compound comprises a metallosupramolecular adhesive compound.

4. The method of claim 2 , wherein the supramolecular adhesive compound comprises a telechelic poly(ethylene-co-butylene) terminated with 2,6-bis(1′-methylbenzimidazoyl)-pyridine ligands.

5. The method of claim 1 , wherein the nanoparticles comprise metal-containing nanoparticles, metal oxide-containing nanoparticles, carbon nanotubes, boron nitride nanotubes, and combinations thereof.

6. The method of claim 1 , wherein the energy source comprises at least one of an electric energy source, a magnetic energy source, an electro-magnetic energy source, and combinations thereof.

7. The method of claim 1 , wherein second layer comprises a fiber optic component, said fiber optic component interwoven into a matrix.

8. The method of claim 7 , wherein the matrix comprises carbon fiber, glass fiber, and combinations thereof.

9. The method of claim 1 , wherein the second layer further comprises an LED array.

10. The method of claim 1 , further comprising re-orienting the nanoparticles in a predetermined orientation based on an amount of energy provided to the first layer by the energy input.

11. The method of claim 1 , further comprising re-orienting on-demand the orientation of at least a portion of the nanoparticles.

12. The method of claim 1 , further comprising the steps of:
monitoring vibration in the structure by sensing vibration in the structure via a vibration sensor, said sensor in communication with the structure, and said sensor able to generate a signal;
sending a signal from the sensor to a detector in communication with the sensor; and
receiving the sensor signal by the detector, said detector in communication with said second layer.

13. The method of claim 1 , wherein the first layer comprises a plurality of regions, and further comprising the step of:
selectively changing the orientation of the nanoparticles in at least a first region of the first layer.

14. A multilayer structure comprising:
a first layer comprising an adhesive embedded with nanoparticles, said adhesive have a first modulus value, and said nanoparticles oriented in a first orientation;
a second layer proximate to the first adhesive layer, said second layer comprising a light activation system; and
an energy input in communication with an energy source and said energy input in communication with the first layer.

15. The structure of claim 14 , wherein the adhesive comprises a supramolecular adhesive compound.

16. The structure of claim 15 , wherein the supramolecular adhesive compound comprises a telechelic poly(ethylene-co-butylene) terminated with 2,6-bis(1′-methylbenzimidazoyl)-pyridine ligands.

17. The structure of claim 14 , wherein the nanoparticles comprise: metal-containing nanoparticles, metal oxide-containing nanoparticles, carbon nanotubes, boron nitride nanotubes, and combinations thereof.

18. The structure of claim 14 , wherein the energy source comprises: an electric source, a magnetic energy source, an electro-magnetic energy source, and combinations thereof.

19. The structure of claim 14 , wherein second layer comprises a fiber optic component, said fiber optic component interwoven into a matrix.

20. The structure of claim 19 , wherein the matrix comprises a material comprising: carbon fiber, glass fiber and combinations thereof.

21. The structure of claim 14 , wherein an amount of energy provided to the first layer by the energy input predictably re-orients the nanoparticles in the first layer.

22. The structure of claim 14 , wherein the orientation of the nanoparticles is changed on-demand.

23. The structure of claim 14 , further comprising:
a sensor for sensing vibration in the structure, said sensor in communication with the structure, and said sensor able to generate a signal; and
a processor in communication with the sensor.

24. The structure of claim 14 , wherein the multilayer structure is incorporated into a stationary structure.

25. The structure of claim 14 , wherein the multilayer structure is incorporated into a vehicle.

26. The structure of claim 24 , wherein the vehicle is selected from the group comprising: a manned aircraft, a manned spacecraft, a manned rotorcraft, an unmanned aircraft, an unmanned spacecraft, an unmanned rotorcraft, a manned terrestrial vehicle, an unmanned terrestrial vehicle, a manned waterborne vehicle, an unmanned waterborne vehicle, and combinations thereof.

Assignees

• Boeing Co

Inventors

• Suntsova Sofya A
• Felker Christopher J

Classifications

• Y10S977/832

  having specified property, e.g. lattice-constant, thermal expansion coefficient · CPC title

• B82Y30/00

  Nanotechnology for materials or surface science, e.g. nanocomposites · CPC title

• G05D24/00

  Control of viscosity · CPC title

• Y10S977/783

  Organic host/matrix, e.g. lipid · CPC title

• G02B2006/12138

  Sensor · CPC title