CNT-infused fiber as a self shielding wire for enhanced power transmission line

• US 9,163,354 B2
• Filed: 09/15/2011
• Issued: 10/20/2015
• Est. Priority Date: 01/15/2010
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Applied NanoStructured Solutions, LLC (Cabot Corporation)
• Original Assignee: Applied NanoStructured Solutions, LLC (Cabot Corporation)
• Inventors: Shah, Tushar K., Adcock, Daniel Jacob, Malecki, Harry C.
• Primary Examiner(s): Mayo, III, William H
• Assistant Examiner(s): Gonzalez, Hiram E
• Application Number:
  US13/234,100
• Publication Number:
  US 20120000691A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,496 Days
• Field of Search: 174/102.R
• US Class Current: 1/1
• 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 32/162 characterised by catalysts
• CPC Class Codes: C01B 32/164 involving continuous processes
• CPC Class Codes: D06M 11/74 with carbon or graphite; with carbides; with graphitic acids or their salts
• CPC Class Codes: D06M 2101/40 Fibres of carbon
• CPC Class Codes: H01B 5/105 composed of synthetic filaments, e.g. glass-fibres
• CPC Class Codes: H05K 9/0098 for shielding electrical cables
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 428/2918 including free carbon or carbide or therewith [not as steel]

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 power transmission medium comprising:

a core comprising a plurality of carbon nanotube (CNT)-infused fibers and a composite matrix, the plurality of CNT-infused fibers and the composite matrix being within the core, wherein each of the plurality of CNT-infused fibers comprises;

a respective fiber material, and

a respective plurality of CNTs infused directly onto a surface of the respective fiber material; and

a protective coating as an outermost layer,

wherein, for at least one of the plurality of CNT-infused fibers of the core,

each CNT of the respective plurality of CNTs and the respective fiber material are in contact with the composite matrix, and

at least a portion of each CNT of the respective plurality of CNTs is aligned parallel to an axis of the respective fiber material and external to the respective fiber material.

2. The composite of claim 1, wherein the core is configured to provide a charge transfer medium.

3. The composite of claim 1, wherein the plurality of CNT-infused fibers are in the composite matrix.

4. The composite of claim 3, wherein the composite matrix is selected from the group consisting of a thermoset resin, a thermoplastic resin, a metal, a ceramic, a cement, and any combination thereof.

5. The composite of claim 1, wherein, for at least one of the plurality of CNT-infused fibers of the core, the respective plurality of CNTs is aligned axially relative to the respective fiber material.

6. The composite of claim 1, wherein, for at least one of the plurality of CNT-infused fibers of the core, each of the respective plurality of CNTs has a length in a range of 0.1 to 500 microns.

7. The composite of claim 1, wherein the core further comprising a plurality of transition metal nanoparticles.

8. The composite of claim 7, wherein the nanoparticles comprise iron.

9. The composite of claim 1, wherein, for at least one of the plurality of CNT-infused fibers of the core, the respective fiber material is selected from the group consisting of glass, a metal, aramid, carbon, a ceramic, and any combination thereof.

10. The composite of claim 1, wherein the protective coating comprises a thermoplastic material.

11. The composite of claim 1 further comprising:

at least one conductor peripheral to the plurality of CNT-infused fibers.

12. A composite for use as a power transmission medium comprising:

a core that comprises a plurality of carbon nanotube (CNT)-infused fibers in a composite matrix, wherein each of the plurality of CNT-infused fibers comprises;

a respective fiber material, and

a respective plurality of CNTs infused on a surface of the respective fiber material; and

at least one conductor peripheral to the core,

wherein, for at least one of the plurality of CNT-infused fibers of the core,

each CNT of the respective plurality of CNTs and the respective fiber material are in contact with the composite matrix, and

at least a portion of each CNT of the respective plurality of CNTs is aligned parallel to an axis of the respective fiber material and external to the respective fiber material.

13. The composite of claim 12 further comprising:

a protective coating as an outermost layer.

14. The composite of claim 12 further comprising:

a protective coating disposed between the core and the conductor.

15. The composite of claim 12, wherein the core is configured to provide a charge transfer medium.

16. The composite of claim 12, wherein the conductor comprises at least one selected from the group consisting of aluminum and copper.

17. The composite of claim 12, wherein the plurality of CNT-infused fibers is twisted into discrete bundles.

18. The composite of claim 12, wherein, for at least one of the plurality of CNT-infused fibers of the core, the respective plurality of CNTs is aligned axially relative to the respective fiber material.

19. An article comprising:

a composite comprising

a core comprising a plurality of carbon nanotube (CNT)-infused fibers and a composite matrix, the plurality of CNT-infused fibers and the composite matrix being within the core, wherein each of the plurality of CNT-infused fibers comprises;

a respective fiber material, and

a respective plurality of CNTs infused directly onto a surface of the respective fiber material; and

a protective coating as an outermost layer; and

a device operably connected to the composite,

wherein, for at least one of the plurality of CNT-infused fibers of the core,

each CNT of the respective plurality of CNTs and the respective fiber material are in contact with the composite matrix, and

at least a portion of each CNT of the respective plurality of CNTs is aligned parallel to an axis of the respective fiber material and external to the respective fiber material.

20. An article comprising:

a composite comprising

a wire and

a carbon nanotube (CNT)-infused fiber shield surrounding the wire, wherein the CNT-infused fiber shield comprises a plurality of CNT-infused fibers, each of the plurality of CNT-infused fibers comprising;

a respective fiber material, and

a respective plurality of CNTs infused directly onto a surface of the respective fiber material; and

a device operably connected to the composite,

wherein, for at least one of the plurality of CNT-infused fibers of the CNT-infused fiber shield,

at least a portion of each CNT of the respective plurality of CNTs is aligned perpendicular to an axis of the respective fiber material and external to the respective fiber material.

21. The article of claim 20, wherein, for the at least one of the plurality of CNT-infused fibers of the CNT-infused fiber shield:

at least one CNT of the respective plurality of CNTs is aligned perpendicular to a surface of the wire, and

at least one CNT of the respective plurality of CNTs is aligned tangential to the surface of the wire.