Process for making polymers comprising derivatized carbon nanotubes and compositions thereof
US7304103B2 · kind B2 · utility
Assignee
Inventors
Key dates
| Filing date | Aug 1, 2003 |
| Grant date | Dec 4, 2007 |
| Priority date | — |
| Expiry date | Jan 11, 2025 |
Classification
- Technology area (CPC Y)Emerging Cross-Sectional Technologies
- CPC primaryY10T428/30
- WIPO fieldOrganic fine chemistry
- WIPO sectorChemistry
Abstract
The present invention incorporates new processes for blending derivatized carbon nanotubes into polymer matrices to create new polymer/composite materials. When modified with suitable chemical groups using diazonium chemistry, the nanotubes can be made chemically compatible with a polymer matrix, allowing transfer of the properties of the nanotubes (such as mechanical strength) to the properties of the composite material as a whole. To achieve this, the derivatized (modified) carbon nanotubes are physically blended with the polymeric material, and/or, if desired, allowed to react at ambient or elevated temperature. These methods can be utilized to append functionalities to the nanotubes that will further covalently bond to the host polymer matrix, or directly between two tubes themselves. Furthermore, the nanotubes can be used as a generator of polymer growth, wherein the nanotubes are derivatized with a functional group that is an active part of a polymerization process, which would also result in a composite material in which the carbon nanotubes are chemically involved.
Source: USPTO / EPO open patent data. Objective bibliographic and citation counts.