Dendritic fiber material
AssigneeEnergy Science Laboratories, Inc.
InventorsTimothy R. Knowles, Christopher L. Seaman
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
A thermal interface includes nanofibrils. The nanofibrils may be attached to a flat base or membrane, or may be attached to the tip portions of larger diameter fibers. The nanofibrils have a diameter of less than about 1 micron, and may advantageously be formed from single walled and/or multi-walled nanotubes.
Claims11
A material comprising a first plurality of fibers and a second plurality of fibers, wherein said first plurality of fibers comprise carbon have a first diameter of approximately 3-15 micrometers, wherein said second plurality of fibers comprise multi-walled nanotubes having a second diameter of greater than zero micrometers and less than about 1 micrometer, and wherein at least some of said second plurality of fibers are bonded to portions of at least some of said first plurality of fibers.
A material comprising a first plurality of fibers and a second plurality of fibers, wherein said first plurality of fibers comprise carbon fibers having a first diameter of less than about 15 micrometers and more than about 3 micrometers, wherein said second plurality of fibers comprises carbon nanotubes having a second diameter of greater than zero micrometers and less than about 1 micrometer, and wherein at least some of said second plurality of fibers are bonded to portions of at least some of said first plurality of fibers.
A thermally conductive gasket comprising:
- a plurality of fibers having first and second ends, said fibers being predominantly aligned and have a diameter of more than about 3 microns and less than about 15 microns;
- a material located predominantly proximate to said first ends, said material improving heat transfer with said first ends, wherein said material comprises a plurality of nanofibrils having a diameter of greater than zero microns and less than about 1 micron.
An interface comprising:
- a first surface;
- a second surface;
- and
- a plurality of elongate fibers in contact with at least one of said first surface and said second surface, wherein at least some of said fibers have a cross sectional diameter of greater than zero microns and less than approximately 1 micron, and are bonded to a portion of other fibers having a cross sectional diameter of approximately 3-15 microns.
A method of making an interface comprising attaching whiskers having a diameter of greater than zero microns and less than about 1 micron to tip portions of fibers having a diameter of greater than about 3 microns and less than about 15 microns.
A method of transferring heat away from a heat source comprising:
- transferring heat from said heat source to a first plurality of fibers having cross sectional diameters of greater than zero microns and less than about 1 micron;
- transferring heat from said first plurality of fibers to a second plurality of fibers having cross sectional diameters of more than about 3 microns and less than about 15 microns;
- and
- transferring heat from said second plurality of fibers to a heat sink.
A method of enhancing the performance of a thermally conductive gasket made from a plurality of predominantly aligned carbon fibers having diameters of more than approximately 3 microns and less than about 15 microns, said method comprising placing a plurality of nanofibrils having diameters of approximately 1 micron proximate to at least some tips of said predominantly aligned carbon fibers.
An interface comprising:
- a first surface;
- a second surface;
- and
- a plurality of elongate fibers in contact with at least one of said first surface and said second surface, wherein at least some of said fibers have a cross sectional diameter of greater than zero microns and less than approximately 1 micron, and are bonded to a tip portion of other fibers having a cross sectional diameter of greater than approximately 3 microns and less than about 15 microns.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.