Selective infiltration of nanofiber yarns
AssigneeLintec of America, Inc.
InventorMarcio D. Lima
Life of this patent
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Abstract
Techniques are described for infiltrating a nanofiber yarn with an infiltration material and removing a surface layer of the infiltration material on at least a portion of the infiltrated nanofiber yarn. This enables an infiltration method by which the infiltration material is selectively disposed within an interior of a nanofiber yarn and not disposed on an exterior surface of at least a portion of a nanofiber yarn. Electrical connection can be established by mechanically connecting an electrode (e.g., a conductive clamp or fitting) directly to the exposed surface of the nanofiber yarn.
Claims26
A collection of continuous nanofibers comprising:
- a surface coated section comprising:
- a first portion of a plurality of nanofibers defining a first plurality of inter-fiber interstitial spaces in a first interior and having a first external surface;
- an infiltration material disposed within at least some of the first plurality of inter-fiber interstitial spaces and disposed on the first external surface of the surface coated section;
- an exposed surface section continuous with the surface coated section, the exposed surface section comprising:
- a second portion of the plurality of nanofibers defining a second plurality of inter-fiber interstitial spaces in a second interior and defining a second external surface;
- and
- the infiltration material disposed within at least some of the second plurality of inter-fiber interstitial spaces, wherein the second external surface is substantially free of the infiltration material.
A nanofiber yarn comprising:
- a plurality of nanofibers defining an external surface of the nanofiber yarn;
- and
- an infiltration material disposed within at least some of a plurality of inter-fiber interstitial spaces in an interior of the nanofiber yarn,
- wherein the external surface of the nanofiber yarn is substantially free of the infiltration material.
A method for fabricating a nanofiber structure comprising:
- providing a collection of nanofibers;
- applying an infiltration material to the collection of nanofibers;
- forming a coating of the infiltration material on an exterior surface of the collection of nanofibers and infiltrating an interior of the collection of nanofibers with the infiltration material;
- and
- removing the coating of the infiltration material on the exterior surface of the nanofiber structure.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.