초록 ▼

The present invention relates generally to reinforced carbon nanotubes, and more particularly to reinforced carbon nanotubes having a plurality of microparticulate carbide or oxide materials formed substantially on the surface of such reinforced carbon nanotubes composite materials. In particular, t

The present invention relates generally to reinforced carbon nanotubes, and more particularly to reinforced carbon nanotubes having a plurality of microparticulate carbide or oxide materials formed substantially on the surface of such reinforced carbon nanotubes composite materials. In particular, the present invention provides reinforced carbon nanotubes (CNTs) having a plurality of boron carbide nanolumps formed substantially on a surface of the reinforced CNTs that provide a reinforcing effect on CNTs, enabling their use as effective reinforcing fillers for matrix materials to give high-strength composites. The present invention also provides methods for producing such carbide reinforced CNTs.

대표청구항 ▼

1. A multi-walled carbon nanotube material having an outermost layer and at least one inner layer comprising a microparticulate carbide or oxide material wherein said microparticulate carbide or oxide material is bonded to the outermost layer and to at least one inner layer of said multi-walled carb

1. A multi-walled carbon nanotube material having an outermost layer and at least one inner layer comprising a microparticulate carbide or oxide material wherein said microparticulate carbide or oxide material is bonded to the outermost layer and to at least one inner layer of said multi-walled carbon nanotube material.2. The multi-walled carbon nanotube material of claim 1, wherein the microparticulate carbide or oxide material are carbide or oxide nanoparticles.3. The multi-walled carbon nanotube material of claim 1, wherein the microparticulate carbide or oxide material exists substantially as carbide or oxide nanolumps on the outermost layer of the carbon nanotube material.4. The multi-walled carbon nanotube material of claim 3, wherein the carbide or oxide nanolumps have an average diameter ranging from 10 to 200 nanometers.5. The multi-walled carbon nanotube material of claim 3, wherein the carbide or oxide nanolumps have an average diameter of about 80 nanometers.6. The multi-walled carbon nanotube material of claim 3, wherein the carbide or oxide nanolumps reside proximally to one another and remain bound to the outermost layer and to at least one inner layer of said multi-walled carbon nanotube material by physical or chemical bonding.7. The multi-walled carbon nanotube material of claim 6, wherein the carbide or oxide nanolumps have an inter-particle spacing ranging from 30 to 500 nanometers.8. The multi-walled carbon nanotube material of claim 6, wherein the carbide or oxide nanolumps have an inter-particle spacing ranging from 50 to 100 nanometers.9. The multi-walled carbon nanotube material of claim 1, wherein the microparticulate carbide material is a metallic or a non-metallic carbide.10. The multi-walled carbon nanotube material of claim 9, wherein the microparticulate carbide material is chosen from the group consisting of boron carbide, silicon carbide, magnesium carbide, titanium carbide, and nobium carbide.11. The multi-walled carbon nanotube material of claim 9, wherein the microparticulate material is boron carbide.12. The multi-walled carbon nanotube material of claim 11, wherein the boron carbide has the formula BxCy, wherein x is 4 to 50 and y is 1 to 4.13. The multi-walled carbon nanotube material of claim 12, wherein the boron carbide (BxCy) has a stoichiometry selected from the group consisting of B4C, B10C, B13C, B12C3, B50C2, B50C, B48C3, B51C, B49C3, B8C, B12C, B12C2 and B11C4.14. The multi-walled carbon nanotube material of claim 12, wherein the boron carbide has the formula B4C.15. The multi-walled carbon nanotube material of claim 1, wherein the oxide material is a metallic or non-metallic oxide.16. The multi-walled carbon nanotube material of claim 15, wherein the oxide material is magnesium oxide (MgO) or boron oxide (B2O3).17. The multi-walled carbon nanotube material of claim 9 wherein a microparticulate carbide material is covalently bonded to the multi-walled carbon nanotube material.18. The multi-walled carbon nanotube material of claim 1, wherein the microparticulate carbide material exists as a stable single phase in a homogeneity ranging from 8 to 20 atom % carbon.19. The multi-walled carbon nanotube material of claim 1, wherein the carbon nanotubes material have a knotted rope-shaped morphology.20. The multi-walled carbon nanotube material of claim 1, wherein the carbon nanotubes have a bone-shaped morphology.21. A composite material comprising a multi-walled carbon nanotube material and a matrix material, said multi-walled carbon nanotube material having an outermost layer and at least one inner layer comprising a microparticulate carbide or oxide material wherein said microparticulate carbide or oxide material is bonded to the outermost layer and to at least one inner layer of said multi-walled carbon nanotube material.22. The composite material of claim 21, wherein the microparticulate carbide material is boron carbide.