Polymer composites with highly tunable thermal and mechanical properties and methods of manufacture
AssigneeThe Texas A&M University System
InventorsChoongho Yu, Hong Wang, Gang Yang
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Abstract
A method of forming an polymer composites is disclosed herein that includes infiltrating CNT sponges with a polymer or metal to form a composite. The method uses a relatively easy, scalable, and low-cost synthesis process that makes the composites attractive as TIM. CNTs in the sponge structure are covalently bonded, resulting in a low Young's modulus while at the same time maintaining a good thermal conductivity. This strategy makes it possible to obtain both high deformability and high thermal conductivity, which are difficult to have simultaneously due to their adverse correlation.
Claims17
A method of making carbon nanotube (CNT)-polymer composite, the method comprising:
- producing CNT sponges in a tube furnace;
- slicing the produced CNT sponges into a shape with desired dimensions;
- treating the sliced CNT sponges with ozone plasma to make the sliced CNT sponges more hydrophilic;
- soaking the treated CNT sponges in a polymer solution to infiltrate the treated CNT sponges with the polymer solution;
- soaking the treated CNT sponges in a mixture comprising a polymer and a solvent to dissolve the polymer and form a polymer layer on walls of CNTs in the CNT sponges;
- exposing the soaked CNT sponges to multiple microwave radiation treatments with cooling steps between each treatment;
- and
- forming a CNT-polymer composite.
A method of making a carbon nanotube (CNT)-polymer composite, the method comprising:
- placing a slurry comprising CNTs and liquid-phase polymers on a conveyor;
- conveying the slurry to a first pulse-microwave radiation location and irradiating the slurry;
- monitoring in situ the irradiated slurry with at least one sensor;
- and
- conveying the slurry to a second pulse-microwave radiation location and irradiating the slurry.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.