Expanded graphite and products produced therefrom
AssigneeBoard of Trustees of Michigan State University
InventorsLawrence Drzal, Hiroyuki Fukushima
Life of this patent
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Abstract
Graphite nanoplatelets of expanded graphite and polymer composites produced therefrom are described. The graphite is expanded from an intercalated graphite by microwaves or radiofrequency waves in the presence of a gaseous atmosphere. The composites have barrier and/or conductive properties due to the expanded graphite.
Claims26
A composite composition which comprises an admixture:
- (a) a polymer;
- and
- (b) microwave or radiofrequency wave expanded graphite platelets, which were expanded from a graphite containing an intercalcant by boiling the intercalcant and are optionally pulverized, in admixture in the polymer, wherein the platelets are present in an amount which provides electrical conductivity properties or provides barrier properties to gases or liquids or a combination of these properties.
In an article of manufacture requiring a polymer which requires electrical conductivity or barrier properties to liquids or gases, the improvement which comprises providing in the article a composite composition which comprises in admixture:
- (a) a polymer;
- and
- (b) microwave or radiofrequency wave expanded graphite nanoplatelets, which were expanded from the intercalated graphite by boiling the intercalcant in admixture in the polymer, wherein the nanoplatelets are present in an amount so that the composite composition provides the electrical conductivity or provides barrier properties to liquids or gases or a combination of these properties.
A method for providing electrical conductivity or barrier properties in an article of manufacture which comprises fabricating an element of the article from a composite composition which comprises in admixture:
- (a) a polymer;
- and
- (b) microwave or radiofrequency wave expanded graphite nanoplatelets which were expanded from a graphite containing an intercalcant by boiling the intercalcant in admixture in the polymer in an amount so that the composition has the electrical conductivity or barrier properties or a combination of these properties.
A composite composition with barrier properties which comprises in admixture:
- (a) a polymer;
- and
- (b) microwave or radiofrequency wave expanded microwave or rf frequency expanded and pulverized nanoplatelets of graphite, which were expanded in the presence of a gaseous atmosphere, in an amount which resists oxygen permeability through the composite due to graphite to provide the barrier properties.
A composite composition with barrier properties which comprises:
- (a) a polymer comprising a nylon polymer;
- and
- (b) microwave or radiofrequency wave expanded graphite platelets, which have been expanded from a graphite containing an intercalcant by boiling the intercalcant and optionally pulverized, in admixture in the polymer, wherein the platelets are present in the composition in an amount which provides a barrier to oxygen gas transmission to provide the barrier properties.
In an article of manufacture requiring a polymer which provides a barrier properties to oxygen gas transmission, the improvement which comprises providing a composite composition in the article which comprises:
- (a) a polymer comprising a nylon polymer;
- and
- (b) microwave or radiofrequency wave expanded graphite nanoplatelets which were expanded from a graphite containing an intercalcant by boiling the intercalcant in admixture in the polymer and optionally pulverized, the platelets are present in an amount so that the composition provides the barrier properties to oxygen gas transmission.
A method for providing barrier properties to oxygen gas transmission in an article of manufacture which comprises fabricating as an element of the article from a composite composition which comprises an admixture:
- (a) a polymer comprising a nylon polymer;
- and
- (b) microwave or radiofrequency wave expanded graphite nanoplatelets which were expanded from a graphite containing an intercalcant by boiling the intercalcant in the presence of a gaseous atmosphere and optionally pulverized, in admixture in the polymer in an amount which provides the composition with the barrier properties to oxygen gas transmission.
A composite composition providing a barrier to diffusion of an organic liquid which comprises in admixture:
- (a) a polymer composition comprising a nylon polymer;
- and
- (b) microwave or radiofrequency wave exfoliated and pulverized graphite nanoplatelets, which were expanded from a graphite containing an intercalcant by boiling the intercalcant and optionally pulverized, in the polymer composition in an amount so that the composition provides the barrier to diffusion of the organic liquid and optionally is electrically conductive.
A process producing a composite composition which comprises an admixture
- (a) a polymer;
- and
- (b) microwave or radiofrequency wave expanded graphite platelets, which were expanded from a graphite containing an intercalcant by boiling the intercalcant, and are optionally pulverized, in admixture in the polymer wherein the platelets are present in an amount which provides electrical conductivity properties or provides barrier properties to gases or liquids or a combination of these properties, which comprises:
- blending a mixture of particles of the polymer with the platelets in a high speed blender at 10 to 500 rpm and then forming to produce the composition.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.