High strength composite materials and related processes
OwnerTaysir H. Nayfehinventor
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Abstract
Composite materials exhibiting very high strength properties and other characteristics are disclosed. The materials comprise one or more nanomaterials dispersed within one or more matrix materials. The nanomaterials can be in a variety of forms, such as for example, carbon nanotubes and/or nanofibers. The matrix material can be glass, fused silicas, or metal. Also disclosed are various processes and operations to readily disperse and uniformly align the nanotubes and/or nanofibers in the flowing matrix material, during production of the composite materials.
Claims48
A process for producing a high strength composite material comprising (i) an effective amount of at least one type of nanostructure having an aspect ratio greater than 1.0, and (ii) a matrix material, the process comprising:
- providing a matrix material;
- heating the matrix material such that the matrix material is flowable;
- providing at least one type of nanostructure having an aspect ratio greater than 1.0;
- combining an effective amount of the at least one type of nanostructure with the matrix material;
- flowing in a parabolic laminar fashion, the combined amount of nanostructures with the matrix material, to thereby cause at least a majority of the nanostructures to adopt a parallel orientation in the matrix material;
- solidifying the composite material while the nanostructures are in the parallel orientation in the matrix material to thereby produce the high strength composite material.
A process for dispersing and aligning nanostructures in a matrix material, the process comprising:
- selecting nanostructures having an aspect ratio greater than 1.0;
- providing a flowable matrix material;
- combining the selected nanostructures in the flowable matrix material;
- flowing, in a parabolic laminar fashion, the combined matrix material and selected nanostructures for a period of time sufficient to cause at least a majority of the nanostructures to adopt a parallel orientation in the matrix material.
A composite material comprising:
- a matrix material;
- and
- an effective amount of at least one type of nanostructure having an aspect ratio greater than 1.0, wherein at least a majority of the nanostructures having an aspect ratio greater than 1.0 are aligned, using a parabolic laminar flow technique, in a parallel orientation with respect to each other.
A composite material comprising:
- a reinforcing composite material including (i) a first matrix material, and (ii) an effective amount of at least one type of nanostructure dispersed in the first matrix material and having an aspect ratio greater than 1.0, wherein at least a majority of the nanostructures are aligned in the first matrix material in a parallel orientation with respect to each other using parabolic laminar flow;
- and
- a secondary matrix material.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.