Loading patent…
AssigneeHyperion Catalysis International, Inc.
InventorsHoward G. Tennent, James J. Barber, Robert Hoch
Estimating the term…
This invention concerns a discrete carbon fibril characterized by a substantially constant diameter between about 3.5 and about 70 nanometers, length greater than about 5 times the diameter and less than about 100 times the diameter, an outer region of multiple essentially continuous layers of ordered carbon atoms and a distinct inner core region. The invention further concerns a plurality of such fibrils. The fibrils of this invention may be produced by contacting for an appropriate period of time and at a suitable pressure a suitable metal-containing particle with a suitable gaseous, carbon-containing compound, at a temperature between about 850.degree. C. and 1200.degree. C., or by treating discrete carbon fibrils, characterized by a length greater than about 100 times the diameter. Carbon fibrils may also be continuously produced by continuously contacting for an appropriate period of time at suitable conditions. Another aspect of the invention concerns a composition of matter comprising a carbon fiber or a carbon plate and a plurality of fibrils. Carbon fibrils and compositions of matter comprising carbon fibrils are useful in composites having a matrix of e.g., an organic polymer, an organic polymer or a metal. In specific embodiments, the fibrils or the compositions of matter may be used to reinforce a structural material, to enhance the electrical or thermal conductivity of a material, to increase the surface area of an electrode or capacitor plate, to provide a support for a catalyst, or to shield an object from electromagnetic radiation.
A fibril mat comprising a plurality of carbon fibrils formed by collecting said fibrils to form a mat, wherein each of said fibrils is characterized by a substantially constant diameter, length greater than about 5 times the diameter, an ordered outer region of catalytically grown, multiple, substantially continuous layers of ordered carbon atoms having an outside diameter between about 3.5 and 70 nanometers, and a distinct inner core region, each of the layers and the core being disposed substantially concentrically about the cylindrical axis of the fibril, wherein each of said fibrils is substantially free of pyrolytically deposited thermal carbon and the diameter of said fibril being equal to the outside diameter of said ordered outer region.
A furry fiber comprising a carbon fiber and a plurality of carbon fibrils, wherein said fibrils adhere to the outer surface of the fiber and said fibrils are characterized by a substantially constant diameter, length greater than about 5 times the diameter and an outside diameter between about 3.5 and 70 nanometers.
A furry plate comprising a carbon plate and a plurality of carbon fibrils, wherein said fibrils adhere to the outer surface of the plate and said fibrils are characterized by a substantially constant diameter, length greater than about 5 times the diameter and an outside diameter between about 3.5 and 70 nanometers.
A composition of matter which comprises a first carbon fibril and a plurality of branch fibrils, wherein each of said branch fibrils adhere to the outer surface of the first carbon fibril and said branch fibrils are characterized by a substantially constant diameter, length greater than about 5 times the diameter and an outside diameter between about 3.5 and 70 nanometers.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.