# US 10,308,773 B2 · Carbon nanostructure preblends and their applications

> Agents: this data is available as JSON from the patentgrep API and MCP server — see https://patentgrep.com/llms.txt

- Number: US 10,308,773 B2
- Document ID: US10308773B2
- Status: Granted
- Kind: B2
- Application number: 15/948,632
- Filed: 2018-04-09
- Published: 2018-08-09
- Granted: 2019-06-04
- Earliest claimed: 2015-02-27
- Assignees: The Gates Corporation
- Applicants: Gates Corporation
- Inventors: Donald James Burlett; Henning Richter; Ramesh Sivarajan; Viktor Vejins
- Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US10308773B2

## CPC

- C08J 3/22: using masterbatch techniques
- C01B 32/05: Preparation or purification of carbon not covered by groups C01B32/15, C01B32/20, C01B32/25, C01B32/30
- C01B 32/152: Fullerenes
- C01B 32/168: After-treatment
- C01B 32/174: Derivatisation; Solubilisation; Dispersion in solvents
- C08J 3/20: Compounding polymers with additives, e.g. colouring
- C08J 3/223: {Packed additives}
- C08K 3/04: Carbon
- C08K 3/041: {Carbon nanotubes}
- C08K 3/042: {Graphene or derivatives, e.g. graphene oxides}
- C08K 5/03: aromatic {, e.g. C6H5-CH2-Cl}
- C09C 1/44: Carbon
- C09C 1/46: Graphite {(C09C1/0015 takes precedence)}
- C09C 1/48: Carbon black
- C09D 123/16: {Elastomeric} ethylene-propylene or ethylene-propylene-diene copolymers {, e.g. EPR and EPDM rubbers}
- C01B 2202/02: Single-walled nanotubes
- C01B 2202/06: Multi-walled nanotubes
- C01P 2002/82: by IR- or Raman-data
- C01P 2004/03: obtained by SEM
- C01P 2004/13: Nanotubes
- C01P 2004/133: Multiwall nanotubes
- C01P 2004/84: one phase coated with the other
- C08J 2300/26: Elastomers
- C08J 2323/16: Ethene-propene or ethene-propene-diene copolymers
- C08J 2323/20: having four to nine carbon atoms
- C08J 2323/22: Copolymers of isobutene; butyl rubber
- C08K 3/045: {Fullerenes}
- C08K 2201/011: Nanostructured additives
- C09C 1/0081: {Composite particulate pigments or fillers, i.e. containing at least two solid phases, except those consisting of coated particles of one compound (C09C1/0015, C09C1/0078 take precedence)}
- C09C 1/58: Agglomerating, pelleting, or the like by wet methods
- Y02E 60/10: Energy storage using batteries
- Y02E 60/13: Energy storage using capacitors
- C08J: WORKING-UP; GENERAL PROCESSES OF COMPOUNDING; AFTER-TREATMENT NOT COVERED BY SUBCLASSES C08B, C08C, C08F, C08G or C08H (working, e.g. shaping, of plastics B29)
- C01B: NON-METALLIC ELEMENTS; COMPOUNDS THEREOF; {METALLOIDS OR COMPOUNDS THEREOF NOT COVERED BY SUBCLASS C01C}
- C08K: Use of inorganic or non-macromolecular organic substances as compounding ingredients (paints, inks, varnishes, dyes, polishes, adhesives C09)
- C09C: TREATMENT OF INORGANIC MATERIALS, OTHER THAN FIBROUS FILLERS, TO ENHANCE THEIR PIGMENTING OR FILLING PROPERTIES (treatment of materials specially adapted to enhance their filling properties in mortars, concrete or artificial stone C04B14/00, C04B18/00, C04B20/00); PREPARATION OF CARBON BLACK {; PREPARATION OF INORGANIC MATERIALS WHICH ARE NO SINGLE CHEMICAL COMPOUNDS AND WHICH ARE MAINLY USED AS PIGMENTS OR FILLERS}
- C09D: COATING COMPOSITIONS, e.g. PAINTS, VARNISHES OR LACQUERS; FILLING PASTES; CHEMICAL PAINT OR INK REMOVERS; INKS; CORRECTING FLUIDS; WOODSTAINS; PASTES OR SOLIDS FOR COLOURING OR PRINTING; USE OF MATERIALS THEREFOR (cosmetics A61K; processes for applying liquids or other fluent materials to surfaces, in general, B05D; staining wood B27K5/02; glazes or vitreous enamels C03C; natural resins, French polish, drying-oils, driers, turpentine, per se, C09F; polishing compositions other than French polish, ski waxes C09G; adhesives or use of materials as adhesives C09J; materials for sealing or packing joints or covers C09K3/10; materials for stopping leaks C09K3/12; processes for the electrolytic or electrophoretic production of coatings C25D)
- C01P: INDEXING SCHEME RELATING TO STRUCTURAL AND PHYSICAL ASPECTS OF SOLID INORGANIC COMPOUNDS
- Y02E: REDUCTION OF GREENHOUSE GAS [GHG] EMISSIONS, RELATED TO ENERGY GENERATION, TRANSMISSION OR DISTRIBUTION

## Abstract

A method for preparing a “preblend” of nanostructured carbon, such as nanotubes, fullerenes, or graphene, and a particulate solid, such as polymer beads, carbon black, graphitic particles or glassy carbon involving wet-mixing and followed by optional drying to remove the liquid medium. The preblend may be in the form of a core-shell powder material with the nanostructured carbon as the shell on the particulate solid core. The preblend may provide particularly improved dispersion of single-walled nanotubes in ethylene-α-olefin elastomer compositions, resulting in improved reinforcement from the nanotubes. The improved elastomer compositions may show simultaneous improvement in both modulus and in elongation at break. The elastomer compositions may be formed into useful rubber articles.

## Claims

### Claim 1

A preblend composition comprising carbon nanostructures and a particulate solid, said preblend composition prepared by wet-mixing said carbon nanostructures and said particulate solid in a liquid medium, wherein the preblend composition comprises solid core particles of said particulate solid coated with a shell of said carbon nanostructures forming a core-shell material;
wherein the core particles comprise carbon-based particles selected from the group consisting of graphitic carbon and glassy carbon; and
wherein the core particles are regular or irregular in shape and have a size in the range of 20 nm to 20 μm in terms of average longest dimension.

### Claim 2

A preblend composition comprising carbon nanostructures and a particulate solid, said preblend composition prepared by wet-mixing said carbon nanostructures and said particulate solid in a liquid medium, wherein the preblend composition comprises solid core particles of said particulate solid coated with a shell of said carbon nanostructures forming a core-shell material;
wherein the core particles comprise carbon-based particles selected from the group consisting of graphitic carbon and glassy carbon; and
wherein the carbon nanostructures consist of one or more from the group consisting of fullerenes, single-walled carbon nanotubes, multi-walled carbon nanotubes, and their chemical derivatives.

### Claim 3 (depends on 1)

The preblend composition of claim 1 wherein the shell coating on the core particles cover a surface area in the range of 50-100% of the total surface area of the core particles.

### Claim 4 (depends on 1)

The preblend composition of claim 1 wherein said preblend composition is further prepared by drying after said wet-mixing.

### Claim 5 (depends on 1)

The preblend composition of claim 1 wherein the preblend further comprises a nanotube network with carbon black particles dispersed therein.

### Claim 6 (depends on 1)

A material composition comprising the preblend composition of claim 1, wherein said material composition is a polymer composition, an electrolyte medium, a paint, a coating, or a slurry.

### Claim 7 (depends on 1)

An article comprising the preblend composition of claim 1, wherein said article is a rubber article, a battery electrode, or a super capacitor.

### Claim 8 (depends on 7)

The article of claim 7, wherein said rubber article is a belt, hose, tire, or vibration control component.

### Claim 9

A method comprising:
dispersing carbon nanostructures in a liquid medium to form a dispersion;
blending the dispersion with a particulate solid to form a blend; and
drying said blend to form a preblend;
wherein the preblend comprises a core-shell material comprising a core of particles of said particulate solid coated with a shell of said carbon nanostructures;
wherein the core particles comprise carbon-based particles selected from the group consisting of graphitic carbon and glassy carbon; and
wherein the carbon nanostructures consist of one or more from the group consisting of fullerenes, single-walled carbon nanotubes, multi-walled carbon nanotubes, and their chemical derivatives.

### Claim 10 (depends on 9)

The method of claim 9 further comprising adding the preblend to a polymer in a compounding process.

### Claim 11 (depends on 9)

The method of claim 9 further comprising using the preblend as part of a battery electrode or as part of an electrolyte medium in a super capacitor.

### Claim 12 (depends on 9)

The method of claim 9 further comprising using the preblend in an electrolyte medium, paint, coating, or slurry.

### Claim 13 (depends on 9)

The method of claim 9 wherein said liquid medium is an organic liquid.

### Claim 14 (depends on 9)

The method of claim 9 wherein said liquid medium comprises substituted aromatic molecules, alkyl substituted aromatics, halogenated substituted molecules, halogenated alkanes, partially hydrogenated aromatics, alkylamines, cyclic ethers, o-dichlorobenzene, xylene, benzene, dimethylformamide, ethylene chloride, chloroform, 1,2,4-trimethylbenzene, 1,2,3,4-tetramethylbenzene, tetrahydrofuran, 1,2-dibromobenzene, 1,1,2,2-tetrachloroethane, 1,2,3,4-tetrahydronaphthalene, octadecylamine, acetone and mixtures thereof.

### Claim 15 (depends on 9)

The method of claim 9 wherein said liquid medium is water or water stabilized by means of surfactant with such surfactant being at least one member selected from the group consisting of sodium cholate, sodium octylbenzene sulfonate, sodium butylbenzene sulfonate, sodium benzoate, sodium dodecyl sulfate, C8H17C6H4(OCH2CH2)n-OH wherein n is 10, dodecyltrimethylammonium bromide, dextrin, and polystyrene-polyethylene oxide diblock copolymer.

### Claim 16 (depends on 2)

The preblend composition of claim 2 wherein the shell coating on the core particles cover a surface area in the range of 50-100% of the total surface area of the core particles.

### Claim 17 (depends on 2)

The preblend composition of claim 2 wherein said preblend composition is further prepared by drying after said wet-mixing.

### Claim 18 (depends on 2)

The preblend composition of claim 2 wherein the preblend further comprises a nanotube network with carbon black particles dispersed therein.

### Claim 19 (depends on 2)

A material composition comprising the preblend composition of claim 2, wherein said material composition is a polymer composition, an electrolyte medium, a paint, a coating, or a slurry.

### Claim 20 (depends on 2)

An article comprising the preblend composition of claim 2, wherein said article is a rubber article, a battery electrode, or a super capacitor.

### Claim 21 (depends on 20)

The article of claim 20, wherein said rubber article is a belt, hose, tire, or vibration control component.