Densifying a nanofiber forest
AssigneeLintec of America, Inc.
InventorChi Huynh
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
A nanofiber forest is described that has been processed to increase a number of nanofibers per unit area (referred to as “areal density” or, equivalently, “density”) compared to the nanofiber forest in its as-synthesized state. This increase in areal density is accomplished by physically manipulating a deformable substrate on which the nanofiber forest is disposed. At a high level, this physical manipulation begins by transferring the nanofiber forest from a growth substrate to a deformable substrate. A surface area of the deformable substrate is reduced relative to a surface area of the substrate when the nanofiber forest was attached. This reduction in area causes the nanofibers in the forest to move closer to one another, thus increasing the number of nanofibers per unit area.
Claims10
A method comprising:
- providing an elastically deformable substrate having a surface with a first surface area in a first relaxed state;
- elastically deforming the elastically deformable substrate to a stretched state in which the surface has a second surface area greater than the first surface area;
- disposing a nanofiber forest on the surface of the elastically deformable substrate in the stretched state having the second surface area;
- and
- increasing an areal density of a nanofiber forest by allowing the elastically deformable substrate to relax into a second relaxed state having a third surface area that is less than the second surface area,
- wherein elastically deforming the elastically deformable substrate comprises applying an isotropic stress to the elastically deformable substrate.
A method comprising:
- providing an elastically deformable substrate having a surface with a first surface area in a first relaxed state;
- elastically deforming the elastically deformable substrate to a stretched state in which the surface has a second surface area greater than the first surface area;
- disposing a nanofiber forest on the surface of the elastically deformable substrate in the stretched state having the second surface area;
- and
- increasing an areal density of a nanofiber forest by allowing the elastically deformable substrate to relax into a second relaxed state having a third surface area that is less than the second surface area, wherein increasing the areal density of the nanofiber forest comprises more than doubling the areal density.
A method comprising:
- providing an elastically deformable substrate having a surface with a first surface area in a first relaxed state;
- elastically deforming the elastically deformable substrate to a stretched state in which the surface has a second surface area greater than the first surface area;
- disposing a nanofiber forest on the surface of the elastically deformable substrate in the stretched state having the second surface area;
- and
- increasing an areal density of a nanofiber forest by allowing the elastically deformable substrate to relax into a second relaxed state having a third surface area that is less than the second surface area,
- wherein disposing the nanofiber forest on the surface of the elastically deformable substrate comprises adhering the nanofiber forest to the elastically deformable substrate in the stretched state with a flowable adhesive,
- wherein the flowable adhesive responds to an applied stress by flowing to relax the applied stress.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.