# US 7,253,442 B2 · Thermal interface material with carbon nanotubes > Agents: this data is available as JSON from the patentgrep API and MCP server — see https://patentgrep.com/llms.txt - Number: US 7,253,442 B2 - Document ID: US7253442B2 - Status: Granted - Kind: B2 - Application number: 11/024,513 - Filed: 2004-12-29 - Published: 2005-08-04 - Granted: 2007-08-07 - Earliest claimed: 2004-04-02 - Assignees: Tsing Hua University; Hon Hai Precision Industry Co., Ltd. - Inventors: Hua Huang; Chang-Hong Liu; Shou-Shan Fan - Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US7253442B2 ## CPC - H10W 40/25: characterised by their materials - B82Y 30/00: Nanotechnology for materials or surface science, e.g. nanocomposites - Y10S 977/712: formed from plural layers of nanosized material, e.g. stacked structures - Y10S 977/735: Carbon buckyball - Y10S 977/742: Carbon nanotubes, CNTs - Y10S 977/743: having specified tube end structure, e.g. close-ended shell or open-ended tube - Y10S 977/842: for carbon nanotubes or fullerenes - Y10S 977/848: Tube end modifications, e.g. capping, joining, splicing - Y10S 977/855: for manufacture of nanostructure - Y10S 977/856: including etching/cutting - H10W: GENERIC PACKAGES, INTERCONNECTIONS, CONNECTORS OR OTHER CONSTRUCTIONAL DETAILS OF DEVICES COVERED BY CLASS H10 - B82Y: SPECIFIC USES OR APPLICATIONS OF NANOSTRUCTURES; MEASUREMENT OR ANALYSIS OF NANOSTRUCTURES; MANUFACTURE OR TREATMENT OF NANOSTRUCTURES - Y10S: TECHNICAL SUBJECTS COVERED BY FORMER USPC CROSS-REFERENCE ART COLLECTIONS [XRACs] AND DIGESTS ## Abstract A thermal interface material (40) includes a macromolecular material (32), and a plurality of carbon nanotubes (22) embedded in the macromolecular material uniformly. The thermal interface material includes a first surface (42) and an opposite second surface (44). Each carbon nanotube is open at both ends thereof, and extends from the first surface to the second surface of the thermal interface material. A method for manufacturing the thermal interface material includes the steps of: (a) forming an array of carbon nanotubes on a substrate; (b) submerging the carbon nanotubes in a liquid macromolecular material; (c) solidifying the liquid macromolecular material; and (d) cutting the solidified liquid macromolecular material to obtain the thermal interface material with the carbon nanotubes secured therein. ## Claims ### Claim 1 A thermal interface structure comprising: a macromolecular material; and a plurality of carbon nanotubes embedded in the macromolecular material; wherein the thermal interface structure has a first surface and a second surface opposite to the first surface; and each carbon nanotube is open at opposite ends thereof, and extends from the first surface to the second surface. ### Claim 2 (depends on 1) The thermal interface structure as claimed in claim 1, wherein the first and second surfaces are substantially parallel to each other. ### Claim 3 (depends on 2) The thermal interface structure as claimed in claim 2, wherein the carbon nanotubes are substantially perpendicular to the first and second surfaces. ### Claim 4 (depends on 1) The thermal interface structure as claimed in claim 1, wherein the carbon nanotubes are substantially parallel to each other. ### Claim 5 (depends on 1) The thermal interface structure as claimed in claim 1, wherein a thickness of the thermal interface structure is in the range from 1 to 1000 micrometers. ### Claim 6 (depends on 1) The thermal interface structure as claimed in claim 1, wherein the macromolecular material is selected from the group consisting of a resin, silicone rubber, and rubber. ### Claim 7 (depends on 1) The thermal interface structure as claimed in claim 1, wherein the carbon nanotubes are embedded in the macromolecular material uniformly. ### Claim 8 A thermal interface material comprising: a macromolecular layer essentially sized as said thermal interface material; and a plurality of carbon nanotubes embedded in said macromolecular layer and pointing toward a same direction, two opposing ends of each of said plurality of carbon nanotubes exposable to two different surfaces of said thermal interface material and formed to be open and expose an interior of said each of said plurality of carbon nanotubes. ### Claim 9 (depends on 8) The thermal interface material as claimed in claim 8, wherein said macromolecular layer is cut to form said two open ends of said each of said plurality of carbon nanotubes. ### Claim 10 (depends on 8) The thermal interface material as claimed in claim 8, wherein the carbon nanotubes are embedded in the macromolecular layer uniformly. ### Claim 11 A thermal interface material having a first surface and a second surface opposite to the first surface, the thermal interface material comprising a plurality of carbon nanotubes embedded in a macromolecular layer and extending from the first surface to the second surface according to a predetermined direction, the carbon nanotubes each having two open ends exposed out of the first and the second surfaces. ### Claim 12 (depends on 11) The thermal interface material as claimed in claim 11, wherein the macromolecular layer is cut to form the two open ends of each of the carbon nanotubes. ### Claim 13 (depends on 11) The thermal interface material as claimed in claim 11, wherein the first and second surfaces are substantially parallel to each other. ### Claim 14 (depends on 13) The thermal interface material as claimed in claim 13, wherein the carbon nanotubes are substantially perpendicular to the first and second surfaces. ### Claim 15 (depends on 11) The thermal interface material as claimed in claim 11, wherein the carbon nanotubes are substantially parallel to each other. ### Claim 16 (depends on 11) The thermal interface material as claimed in claim 11, wherein a thickness of the thermal interface material is in the range from 1 to 1000 micrometers. ### Claim 17 (depends on 11) The thermal interface material as claimed in claim 11, wherein the macromolecular layer is comprised of a material selected from the group consisting of a resin, silicone rubber, and rubber. ### Claim 18 (depends on 11) The thermal interface material as claimed in claim 11, wherein the carbon nanotubes are embedded in the macromolecular layer uniformly.