Composite articles comprising non-linear elongated nanostructures and associated methods

• US 10,350,837 B2
• Filed: 05/31/2017
• Issued: 07/16/2019
• Est. Priority Date: 05/31/2016
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Massachusetts Institute of Technology, Saab AB
• Original Assignee: Massachusetts Institute of Technology
• Inventors: Wardle, Brian L., Nordin, Pontus
• Primary Examiner(s): O'Hern, Brent T
• Application Number:
  US15/609,557
• Publication Number:
  US 20170341316A1
• Time in Patent Office: 776 Days
• Field of Search: 428121
• CPC Class Codes: B29C 53/02 Bending or folding B29C53/22, B29C53/34, B29C53/36, B29C53/56 take precedence
• CPC Class Codes: B29C 70/081 Combinations of fibres of continuous or substantial length and short fibres
• CPC Class Codes: B29C 70/14 oriented
• CPC Class Codes: B29C 70/42 for producing articles of definite length, i.e. discrete articles
• CPC Class Codes: B29K 2105/167 Nanotubes
• CPC Class Codes: B29K 2307/04 Carbon
• CPC Class Codes: B82Y 30/00 Nanotechnology for materials or surface science, e.g. nanocomposites
• CPC Class Codes: B82Y 40/00 Manufacture or treatment of nanostructures
• CPC Class Codes: C01B 2202/08 Aligned nanotubes
• CPC Class Codes: C01B 32/162 characterised by catalysts
• CPC Class Codes: C08J 2363/00 Characterised by the use of epoxy resins; Derivatives of epoxy resins
• CPC Class Codes: C08J 5/005 Reinforced macromolecular compounds with nanosized materials, e.g. nanoparticles, nanofibres, nanotubes, nanowires, nanorods or nanolayered materials
• CPC Class Codes: C08J 7/044 Forming conductive coatings; Forming coatings having anti-static properties
• CPC Class Codes: C08J 7/06 with compositions not containing macromolecular substances
• CPC Class Codes: C08K 3/041 Carbon nanotubes
• CPC Class Codes: Y10S 977/742 Carbon nanotubes, CNTs
• CPC Class Codes: Y10S 977/753 with polymeric or organic binder
• CPC Class Codes: Y10S 977/843 Gas phase catalytic growth, i.e. chemical vapor deposition

Abstract

The present disclosure relates to composite articles comprising non-linear elongated nanostructures and associated systems and methods. In certain embodiments, collections of carbon nanotubes or other elongated nanostructures can be used to provide mechanical reinforcement along multiple directions within a composite article.

Claims

1. An article, comprising:

a collection of elongated nanostructures arranged within a support material,

wherein the collection has a longitudinal axis that defines a plurality of crests and a plurality of troughs defining at least one amplitude and at least one wavelength, wherein the ratio of the amplitude to the wavelength is at least about 0.5;

1; and

the elongated nanostructures are substantially locally aligned.

2. An article as in claim 1, wherein the collection has an average amplitude of at least about 5 microns.

3. An article as in claim 1, wherein the collection has an average wavelength of at least about 0.5 microns.

4. An article, comprising:

a collection of substantially locally aligned elongated nanostructures; and

a support material within which the collection of elongated nanostructures are arranged,

wherein the collection of elongated nanostructures defines a first geometric surface portion of the collection and a second geometric surface portion of the collection opposite the first geometric surface portion;

wherein the collection of elongated nanostructures comprises a first fold comprising at least a first portion of the first geometric surface portion facing at least a second portion of the first geometric surface portion, and a second fold comprising at least a first portion of the second geometric surface portion facing at least a second portion of the second geometric surface portion; and

wherein the support material comprises a first substrate and a second substrate located relative to the first substrate such that an interface is formed between the first substrate and the second substrate.

5. An article as in claim 4, wherein the collection of elongated nanostructures is located at the interface between the first substrate and the second substrate.

6. An article, comprising:

a collection of substantially locally aligned elongated nanostructures; and

a support material within which the collection of elongated nanostructures are arranged,

wherein the collection of elongated nanostructures defines a first geometric surface portion of the collection and a second geometric surface portion of the collection opposite the first geometric surface portion;

wherein the collection of elongated nanostructures comprises a first fold comprising at least a first portion of the first geometric surface portion facing at least a second portion of the first geometric surface portion, and a second fold comprising at least a first portion of the second geometric surface portion facing at least a second portion of the second geometric surface portion; and

wherein the first geometric surface portion has an aspect ratio of at least 10;

1.

7. An article as in claim 6, wherein the first portion of the first geometric surface portion and the second portion of the first geometric surface portion are aligned within 10 degrees of parallel.

8. An article as in claim 6, wherein the nanostructures are nanotubes.

9. An article as in claim 8, wherein the nanotubes are carbon nanotubes.

10. An article as in claim 6, wherein the nanostructures are nanowires.

11. An article as in claim 6, wherein at least a portion of the elongated nanostructures extend a distance at least 10 times greater than the number average of nearest neighbor distances within the collection in each of two orthogonal directions each perpendicular to the longitudinal axes of the nanostructures.

12. An article as in claim 6, wherein the support material comprises a polymer, a metal, and/or a ceramic.