CNT-INFUSED FIBER AS A SELF SHIELDING WIRE FOR ENHANCED POWER TRANSMISSION LINE

• US 20110174519A1
• Filed: 01/13/2011
• Published: 07/21/2011
• Est. Priority Date: 01/15/2010
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Applied NanoStructured Solutions, LLC (Cabot Corporation)
• Original Assignee: Applied NanoStructured Solutions, LLC (Cabot Corporation)
• Inventors: Malecki, Harry C., Shah, Tushar K., Adcock, Daniel J.
• Granted Patent: US 9,167,736 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 174/119.C
• CPC Class Codes: H01B 3/004 with conductive additives or conductive layers
• CPC Class Codes: H05K 9/009 comprising electro-conductive fibres, e.g. metal fibres, carbon fibres, metallised textile fibres, electro-conductive mesh, woven, non-woven mat, fleece, cross-linked

Abstract

A wire includes a plurality of carbon nanotube infused fibers in which the infused carbon nanotubes are aligned parallel to the fiber axes. An electromagnetic shield for a wire includes a plurality of carbon nanotube infused fibers, in which the infused carbon nanotubes are aligned radially about the fiber axes. The plurality of carbon nanotube infused fibers are arranged circumferentially about the wire with the fiber axes parallel to the wire. A self-shielded wire includes 1) a wire that includes a plurality of carbon nanotube infused fibers in which the infused carbon nanotubes are aligned parallel to the fiber axes; and 2) an electromagnetic shield that includes a plurality of carbon nanotube infused fibers in which the carbon nanotubes are aligned radially about the fiber axes. The axes of the carbon nanotube infused fibers of the wire and the carbon nanotube infused fibers of the electromagnetic shield share are parallel.

Claims

1. A composite for use as a self-shielding wire comprising:

a carbon nanotube (CNT)-infused fiber core comprising a plurality of CNT-infused fibers arranged in a composite matrix, each CNT-infused fiber of the CNT-infused fiber core comprising a composite fiber material with CNTs infused directly onto a surface of the fiber material; and

a film of thermo-plastic material formed onto an outermost layer of the CNT-infused fiber core.

2. The composite of claim 1 further comprising:

a CNT-infused fiber shield comprising a plurality of CNT-infused fibers surrounding the CNT-infused fiber core, each CNT-infused fiber of the CNT-infused fiber shield comprising a composite fiber material with CNTs infused directly on a surface of the fiber material, the CNT-infused core to provide a charge transfer medium for the wire.

3. The composite of claim 1, wherein the CNT-infused core is configured to provide a charge transfer medium for the wire.

4. The composite of claim 1, further comprising:

a conductive wire surrounding the CNT-infused core and configured to provide a charge transfer medium.

5. The composite of claim 4, wherein the conductive wire is comprised of one of aluminum and copper.

6. The composite of claim 2, wherein and each CNT-infused fiber of the CNT-infused fiber shield being radially aligned and perpendicular to an axis of the fiber material.

7. The composite of claim 1, wherein and each CNT-infused fiber of the CNT-infused fiber core is axially aligned along and perpendicular to an axis of the fiber material.

8. The composite of claim 6, wherein and each CNT-infused fiber of the CNT-infused fiber core is axially aligned along and perpendicular to an axis of the fiber material.

9. The composite of claim 2, wherein the film of thermo-plastic material is formed between the CNT-infused fiber core and the CNT-infused fiber shield.

10. The composite of claim 1, further comprising a plurality of transition metal nanoparticles.

11. The composite of claim 10, wherein said nanoparticles comprise iron.

12. The composite of claim 2, wherein each CNT-infused fiber of the CNT-infused fiber shield is disposed within at least a portion of a matrix material.

13. The composite of claim 1, wherein the CNTs are present in a range between about 1% by weight to about 20% by weight of the composite.

14. The composite of claim 1, wherein the fiber material is selected from glass, carbon, and ceramic.

15. The composite of claim 1, wherein the first CNTs infused on the fiber material have a length in the range of 0.1 to 500 microns.

16. The composite of claim 1, wherein the first CNTs infused on the fiber material have a length in the range of 10 to 50 microns.

17. A composite for use in electromagnetic interference (EMI) shielding applications comprising:

a conductive wire;

a CNT-infused fiber shield comprising a plurality of CNT-infused fibers surrounding the conductive wire, each CNT-infused fiber comprising a composite fiber material with CNTs infused directly on a surface of the fiber material, and each CNT-infused fiber being radially aligned along and perpendicular to an axis of the fiber material, the conductive wire to provide a charge transfer medium; and

a film of thermo-plastic material formed onto an outermost layer of the CNT-infused fiber shield.

18. A method of manufacturing a composite, said composite comprising a carbon nanotube (CNT)-infused fiber material disposed in at least a portion of a matrix material, the method comprising:

disposing a CNT-infused fiber material in a portion of a matrix material with a controlled orientation of the CNT-infused fiber material within the matrix material; and

curing the matrix material, wherein the controlled orientation of the CNT-infused fiber material controls the relative orientation of CNTs infused thereon to align the CNT-infused fiber material relative to an axis of the fiber material;

realigning the CNTs infused onto the fiber material to be axially aligned along and parallel to an axis of the fiber material if an axial orientation is required.

19. A panel comprising:

a composite, said composite comprising;

a carbon nanotube (CNT)-infused fiber core comprising a plurality of CNT-infused fibers arranged in a composite matrix, each first CNT-infused fiber of the CNT-infused fiber core comprising a composite fiber material with CNTs infused directly onto a surface of the fiber material, and each CNT-infused fiber of the CNT-infused fiber core being axially aligned along and perpendicular to an axis of the fiber material;

a CNT-infused fiber shield comprising a plurality of CNT-infused fibers surrounding the CNT-infused fiber core, each CNT-infused fiber of the CNT-infused fiber shield comprising a composite fiber material with CNTs infused directly on a surface of the fiber material, and each CNT-infused fiber of the CNT-infused fiber shield being radially aligned and perpendicular to an axis of the fiber material, the CNT-infused core to provide a charge transfer medium; and

a film of thermo-plastic material formed onto an outermost layer of the CNT-infused fiber shield,

wherein the panel being adaptable to interface with a device for use as a self-shielding wire, and

wherein the panel is further equipped with an electrical ground.

20. A panel comprising:

a composite, said composite comprising;

a conductive wire;

a CNT-infused fiber shield comprising a plurality of CNT-infused fibers surrounding the conductive wire, each second CNT-infused fiber comprising a composite fiber material with CNTs infused directly on a surface of the fiber material, and each CNT-infused fiber being radially aligned and perpendicular to an axis of the fiber material, the conductive wire to provide a charge transfer medium; and

a film of thermo-plastic material formed onto an outermost layer of the CNT-infused fiber shield,

wherein the panel being adaptable to interface with a device for use as a self-shielding wire, and

wherein the panel is further equipped with an electrical ground.