Ceramic materials reinforced with single-wall carbon nanotubes as electrical conductors
AssigneeThe Regents of the University of California
InventorsGuodong Zhan, Joshua D. Kuntz, Amiya K. Mukherjee
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Abstract
Composite materials formed of a matrix of fused ceramic grains with single-wall carbon nanotubes dispersed throughout the matrix and a high relative density, notably that achieved by electric field-assisted sintering, demonstrate unusually high electrical conductivity in combination with high-performance mechanical properties including high fracture toughness. This combination of electrical and mechanical properties makes these composites useful as electrical conductors in applications where high-performance materials are needed due to exposure to extreme conditions such as high temperatures and mechanical stresses.
Claims13
In an application requiring the conduction of an electric current as the result of a voltage applied between two terminals, the improvement comprising interposing between said terminals a composite material comprised of metal oxide and single-wall carbon nanotubes, said composite material having a density of at least 95% relative to a volume-averaged theoretical density, said composite material being the product of a process comprising consolidating a mixture of ceramic particles of less than 500 nm in diameter and single-wall carbon nanotubes into a continuous mass by compressing said mixture at a pressure of from about 10 MPa to about 200 MPa and a temperature of from about 800° C. to about 1,500° C. while passing a sintering pulsed direct electric current of from about 250 A/cm2 to about 10,000 A/cm2 through said mixture.
In an application requiring the conduction of an electric current as the result of a voltage applied between two terminals, the improvement comprising interposing between said terminals a composite material having a density of at least 95% relative to a volume-averaged theoretical density, said composite material being the product of a process comprising consolidating a mixture of alumina particles of less than 500 nm in diameter and single-wall carbon nanotubes into a continuous mass by compressing said mixture while passing a sintering electric current through said mixture, and in which said single-wall carbon nanotubes constitute from about 5% to about 25% of said composite.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.