Method and apparatus for producing aligned carbon nanotube thermal interface structure
AssigneeIntel Corporation
InventorsStephen W. Montgomery, Tomm V. Aldridge
Life of this patent
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Abstract
The invention relates to a method and apparatus for producing aligned carbon nanotube thermal interface structures using batch and continuous manufacturing processes. In a batch process a capacitor is immersed in a bath containing a slurry of thermoplastic polymer containing randomly oriented carbon nanotubes and energized to create an electrical field to orient the carbon nanotubes prior to curing. In a continuous process, slurry carried by a conveyor receives the nanotube aligning electric field from capacitors positioned on both sides of the conveyor bearing the slurry.
Claims24
A method of fabricating a thermal interface structure, the method comprising:
- preparing a composite slurry of carbon nanotubes in a liquid polymer;
- aligning the nanotubes in the composite by applying an electrostatic field;
- and
- curing the composite while continuing to apply the electrostatic field.
A method of fabricating a thermal interface material, the method comprising:
- preparing a slurry of carbon nanotubes in a liquid polymer;
- dispensing the slurry onto a surface of a conveyor as a layer of unaligned carbon nanotube composite;
- applying an electrostatic field to the layer of unaligned carbon nanotube composite to form an aligned carbon nanotube composite with the carbon nanotubes substantially perpendicular to the conveyor;
- and
- curing the aligned carbon nanotube composite.
Apparatus for forming a thermal interface structure, comprising:
- a vat to store a slurry of carbon nanotubes in a liquid interstitial material;
- at least one parallel plate capacitor movable into and out of the slurry to receive a portion of the slurry between the plates, the capacitor being adjustable to vary the distance between the plates while immersed in the slurry;
- and
- a voltage source to apply an electric field between the plates of the capacitor to align a majority of the nanotubes in the portion of the slurry between the plates to an orientation substantially perpendicular to the plates of the capacitor.
Apparatus for forming a thermal interface structure comprising:
- a hopper to store a slurry of carbon nanotubes in a liquid polymeric interstitial material;
- a conveyor positioned to transport slurry from the hopper to a further workstation;
- electrical field applying apparatus positioned to apply an electrical field to align carbon nanotubes in the slurry to a preferred orientation without removal of the slurry from the conveyor at the further work station;
- and
- curing apparatus positioned to commence curing of the aligned slurry.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.