Multi-component conductive polymer structures and a method for producing same
AssigneeCatalytic Materials, LLC
InventorsNelly M. Rodriguez, R. Terry K. Baker
Life of this patent
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Abstract
Novel electrically conductive polymer composite structures having a horizontal plane that contain effective amounts of two different types of conductive graphitic nanofibers. The first type of graphitic nanofiber is aligned substantially parallel to the horizontal plane of the polymer structure and are comprised of graphite platelets that are aligned substantially parallel to the longitudinal axis of the nanofiber. The second type of conductive graphite nanofiber are aligned at an angle to the horizontal plane of the polymer structure and are comprised of graphite platelets aligned at an angle to the longitudinal axis of the nanofiber. The conductive polymer composite structures are further comprised of one or more polymer layers.
Claims33
A conductive polymeric composite structure having a horizontal plane, which polymeric composite structure is comprised of:
- at least one polymer layer wherein the conductivity is provided by:
- i) an effective amount of a first conductive graphitic nanofiber comprised of graphite platelets that are aligned substantially parallel to the longitudinal axis of the nanofiber and which first graphitic nanofiber is aligned substantially parallel to the horizontal plane of the composite polymeric composite structure;
- and ii) an effective amount of a second conductive graphitic nanofiber comprised of graphite platelets that are aligned at an angle greater than 0° to 90° with respect to the longitudinal axis of the nanofiber and wherein said second conductive graphitic nanofibers are also aligned substantially parallel to the horizontal plane of the polymeric composite structure, and wherein the angled platelet graphite nanofibers are located at the surface of the polymer structure;
- wherein a fraction of the angled graphite platelet nanofibers protrude from the polymer surface.
A conductive polymeric bicomponent fiber comprising a polymeric core surrounded by a polymer sheath fused thereto, wherein said polymeric core contains an effective amount of a first conductive graphitic nanofibers comprised of graphite platelets that arc aligned substantially parallel to the longitudinal axis of the nanofiber, which first conductive graphitic nanofibers are aligned substantially parallel to the longitudinal axis of the fiber;
- and wherein said sheath is comprised of an effective amount of a second conductive graphitic nanofibers comprised of graphite platelets that are aligned at an angle greater than 0° to 90° with respect to the longitudinal axis of the nanofiber and wherein said second conductive graphitic nanofibers are also aligned substantially parallel to the longitudinal axis of the fiber.
A conductive polymeric structure having a horizontal plane and being comprised of three of more polymer layers wherein there are two outside polymer layers and one or more inside polymer layers, and wherein said one or more inside layers contain an effective amount of a first conductive graphitic nanofibers comprised of graphite platelets that are aligned substantially parallel to the longitudinal axis of the nanofiber, which first conductive graphitic nanofibers are aligned substantially parallel to the horizontal plane of the structure;
- and wherein said two outside layers contains an effective amount of a second conductive graphitic nanofibers comprised of graphite platelets that are aligned at an angle greater than 0° to 90° with respect to the longitudinal axis of the nanofiber and wherein said second conductive graphitic nanofibers are also aligned substantially parallel to the longitudinal axis of the fiber.
A method for increasing the conductivity of a polymer, which method comprising adding to said polymer:
- i) an effective amount of a first conductive graphitic nanofiber comprised of graphite platelets that are aligned substantially parallel to the longitudinal axis of the nanofiber;
- and ii) an effective amount of a second conductive graphitic nanofiber comprised of graphite platelets that are aligned at an angle greater than 0° to 90° with respect to the longitudinal axis of the nanofiber.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.