Continuous boron nitride nanotube fibers
AssigneeBnnt, LLC
InventorsMichael W. SMITH, Jonathan C. STEVENS, Kevin C. JORDAN, R. Roy WHITNEY
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Abstract
Described herein are apparatus, systems, and methods for the continuous production of BNNT fibers, BNNT strands and BNNT initial yarns having few defects and good alignment. BNNTs may be formed by thermally exciting a boron feedstock in a chamber in the presence of pressurized nitrogen. BNNTs are encouraged to self-assemble into aligned BNNT fibers in a growth zone, and form BNNT strands and BNNT initial yarns, through various combinations of nitrogen gas flow direction and velocities, heat source distribution, temperature gradients, and chamber geometries.
Claims21
1-20. (canceled)
An apparatus for producing aligned boron nitride nanotube (BNNT) fibers, the apparatus comprising:
- a chamber providing a boron feedstock mounting surface, the mounting surface configured to support a boron melt;
- a nitrogen gas supply system configured to feed nitrogen gas at an elevated pressure to the chamber and to direct the gas through the chamber in a first direction;
- a heat source for thermally exciting a boron feedstock on the mounting structure, wherein the heat source provides heat into the chamber;
- and
- wherein the chamber includes a growth zone region downstream of the mounting structure in the first direction, the growth zone region configured for BNNT self-assembly downstream of the feedstock mounting surface in the first direction.
An apparatus for producing aligned boron nitride nanotube (BNNT) fibers, the apparatus comprising:
- a chamber providing a boron feedstock mounting surface, the mounting surface configured to support a boron melt;
- a nitrogen gas supply system configured to feed nitrogen gas at an elevated pressure to the chamber and to direct the gas through the chamber in a first direction;
- a heat source for thermally exciting a boron feedstock on the mounting structure, wherein the heat source provides heat into the chamber;
- and
- wherein the chamber includes:
- a growth zone region downstream of the mounting structure in the first direction, the growth zone region configured for BNNT self-assembly downstream of the feedstock mounting surface in the first direction;
- and
- an interference zone region downstream of the grown zone region in the first direction, the interference zone region configured for self-assembled BNNT fibers to form BNNT strands.
An apparatus for producing aligned boron nitride nanotube (BNNT) fibers, the apparatus comprising:
- a chamber providing a boron feedstock mounting surface, the mounting surface configured to support a boron melt;
- a nitrogen gas supply system configured to feed nitrogen gas at an elevated pressure to the chamber and to direct the gas through the chamber in a first direction;
- a heat source for thermally exciting a boron feedstock on the mounting structure, wherein the heat source provides heat into the chamber;
- and
- wherein the chamber includes:
- a growth zone region downstream of the mounting structure in the first direction, the growth zone region configured for BNNT self-assembly downstream of the feedstock mounting surface in the first direction;
- an interference zone region downstream of the grown zone region in the first direction, the interference zone region configured for self-assembled BNNT fibers to form BNNT strands;
- and
- a stretch zone region downstream of the interference zone region, the stretch zone region configured for BNNT strands flowing from the interference zone increase in length and decrease in diameter.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.