Carbon nanotube fabric and heater adopting the same

• US 8,357,881 B2
• Filed: 11/19/2009
• Issued: 01/22/2013
• Est. Priority Date: 08/14/2009
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Hon Hai Precision Industry Co., Ltd., Tsinghua University
• Original Assignee: Hon Hai Precision Industry Co., Ltd., Tsinghua University
• Inventors: Feng, Chen, Jiang, Kai-Li, Liu, Liang, Fan, Shou-Shan
• Primary Examiner(s): Coleman, William D
• Application Number:
  US12/592,257
• Publication Number:
  US 20110036828A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,160 Days
• Field of Search: 219/529
• US Class Current: 219/529
• CPC Class Codes: H05B 2203/005 using multiple resistive elements or resistive zones isolated from each other
• CPC Class Codes: H05B 2203/011 Heaters using laterally extending conductive material as connecting means
• CPC Class Codes: H05B 2203/015 Heater wherein the heating element is interwoven with the textile
• CPC Class Codes: H05B 2203/017 Manufacturing methods or apparatus for heaters
• CPC Class Codes: H05B 2203/032 Heaters specially adapted for heating by radiation heating
• CPC Class Codes: H05B 2203/033 Heater including particular mechanical reinforcing means
• CPC Class Codes: H05B 2214/04 Heating means manufactured by using nanotechnology
• CPC Class Codes: H05B 3/342 heaters used in textiles

Abstract

A carbon nanotube fabric includes a heating element and at least two electrodes. The heating element includes a plurality of carbon nanotubes joined end to end. The at least two electrodes are separately located and electrically connected to the carbon nanotubes of the heating element.

Claims

1. A carbon nanotube fabric, comprising:

a heating element comprising a plurality of carbon nanotubes joined end to end; and

at least two electrodes separately located and electrically connected to the carbon nanotubes of the heating element, wherein the at least two electrodes are made of conductive carbon nanotubes.

2. The carbon nanotube fabric of claim 1, wherein the carbon nanotubes are formed in at least one carbon nanotube wire-shaped structure or at least one carbon nanotube film.

3. The carbon nanotube fabric of claim 2, wherein the carbon nanotubes are formed in the at least one carbon nanotube wire-shaped structure;

further comprising at least one thread interwoven with the at least one carbon nanotube wire-shaped structure.

4. The carbon nanotube fabric of claim 1, wherein the carbon nanotubes are arranged along a direction extending from one electrode to another electrode.

5. The carbon nanotube fabric of claim 1, further comprising a first fabric layer and a second fabric layer, the heating element being located between the first fabric layer and the second fabric layer.

6. The carbon nanotube fabric of claim 1, wherein the at least two electrodes are conductive wires weaved in the heating element.

7. The carbon nanotube fabric of claim 2, wherein the at least one carbon nanotube wire-shaped structure comprises at least one carbon nanotube wire.

8. The carbon nanotube fabric of claim 2, wherein the carbon nanotubes are formed in the at least one carbon nanotube film;

the heating element comprises at least two carbon nanotube films stacked upon each other.

9. The carbon nanotube fabric of claim 3, wherein a material of the at least one thread is selected from the group consisting of cotton, hemp, nylon, spandex, polyester, polyacrylonitrile, wool, carbon fiber, and silk.

10. The carbon nanotube fabric of claim 3, wherein a heat capacity per unit area of the carbon nanotube wire-shaped structure is less than 2×

10<sup>−

4</sup> J/cm2·

K.

11. The carbon nanotube fabric of claim 7, wherein the carbon nanotube wire-shaped structure comprises a plurality of carbon nanotube wires substantially parallel to each other to form a bundle-like structure or twisted with each other to form a twisted structure.

12. The carbon nanotube fabric of claim 11, wherein the carbon nanotube wires comprises a plurality of carbon nanotubes aligned around an axis of the carbon nanotube wires like a helix or arranged substantially parallel to an axis of the carbon nanotube wires.

13. The carbon nanotube fabric of claim 5, wherein the heating element is bonded to the first fabric layer and the second fabric layer by an adhesive or the first fabric layer and the second fabric layer are sewn together.

14. The carbon nanotube fabric of claim 5, wherein the area of the heating element is less than or equal to that of the first fabric layer or the second fabric layer.

15. A heater, comprising:

a body; and

a carbon nanotube fabric embedded in the body, the carbon nanotube fabric comprising;

a heating element and at least two electrodes, the heating element comprising a plurality of carbon nanotubes joined end to end, the at least two electrodes being separately located and electrically connected to the carbon nanotubes of the heating element, wherein the at least two electrodes are made of conductive carbon nanotubes.

16. The heater of claim 15, wherein the body is an insole, a hat, a blanket, or a physiotherapy instrument.

17. The heater of claim 15, wherein the body comprises two surface layers, the carbon nanotube fabric is located between the two surface layers.

18. A heater, comprising:

a device, wherein the device comprises a container in a state of vacuum or filled with inert gas; and

a carbon nanotube fabric located in the container, the carbon nanotube fabric comprising;

a heating element, the heating element comprising a plurality of carbon nanotubes joined end to end; and

at least two electrodes, the at least two electrodes being separately located and electrically connected to the carbon nanotubes of the heating element.

19. The heater of claim 18, wherein the at least two electrodes are made of conductive carbon nanotubes.