HIGH-DENSITY CARBON NANOTUBE AGGREGATE AND METHOD OF PRODUCING HIGH-DENSITY CARBON NANOTUBE AGGREGATE

• US 20180118571A1
• Filed: 02/24/2016
• Published: 05/03/2018
• Est. Priority Date: 02/27/2015
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Hitachi Zosen Corporation
• Original Assignee: Hitachi Zosen Corporation
• Inventors: MARUYAMA, Hiroyuki
• Granted Patent: US 10,640,380 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• CPC Class Codes: B01J 20/205 Carbon nanostructures, e.g. nanotubes, nanohorns, nanocones, nanoballs carbon nanotubes per se C01B32/15
• 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 32/05 Preparation or purification of carbon not covered by groups C01B32/15, C01B32/20, C01B32/25, C01B32/30
• CPC Class Codes: C01B 32/162 characterised by catalysts
• CPC Class Codes: C01B 32/17 Purification
• CPC Class Codes: C01B 32/21 After-treatment
• CPC Class Codes: C01P 2004/64 Nanometer sized, i.e. from 1-100 nanometer

Abstract

A method of producing a high-density carbon nanotube aggregate includes the steps of: preparing a carbon nanotube array including a plurality of carbon nanotubes aligned on a substrate and oriented vertically to the substrate; and heating the carbon nanotube array to 2,600° C. or higher.

Claims

1. A method of producing a high-density carbon nanotube aggregate comprising the steps of:

preparing a carbon nanotube array including a plurality of carbon nanotubes aligned on a substrate and oriented vertically to the substrate; and

heating the carbon nanotube array to 2,600°

C. or higher.

2. The method of producing a high-density carbon nanotube aggregate of claim 1, wherein heating the carbon nanotube array comprises:

separating the carbon nanotube array from the substrate; and

then heating the carbon nanotube array.

3. The method of producing a high-density carbon nanotube aggregate of claim 1, wherein heating the carbon nanotube array comprises heating the carbon nanotube array in a no-load state.

4. The method of producing a high-density carbon nanotube aggregate of claim 1 further comprising:

cooling the carbon nanotube array to 2,000°

C. or lower after heating the carbon nanotube array,

wherein the steps of heating the carbon nanotube array and cooling the carbon nanotube array are repeated sequentially.

5. The method of producing a high-density carbon nanotube aggregate of claim 1, further comprising supplying a liquid to the carbon nanotube array after heating the carbon nanotube array.

6. A high-density carbon nanotube aggregate produced by the method of producing a high-density carbon nanotube aggregate of claim 1.

7. A high-density carbon nanotube aggregate, comprising:

a plurality of carbon nanotubes oriented in a predetermined direction, the plurality of carbon nanotubes being arranged in a sheet form continuously with each other in a direction orthogonal to the predetermined direction without being continuous with each other in the predetermined direction,

wherein an average bulk density of the plurality of carbon nanotubes arranged in the sheet form is from greater than 50 mg/cm³ to 200 mg/cm³,

in the plurality of carbon nanotubes arranged in the sheet form, a proportion of bulk density of each portion to the average bulk density is from 80% to 120%, and

a shape of the high-density carbon nanotube aggregate is maintained such that the plurality of carbon nanotubes are in contact with each other.