Classifications

• • B—PERFORMING OPERATIONS; TRANSPORTING
  • B82—NANOTECHNOLOGY
  • B82Y—SPECIFIC USES OR APPLICATIONS OF NANOSTRUCTURES; MEASUREMENT OR ANALYSIS OF NANOSTRUCTURES; MANUFACTURE OR TREATMENT OF NANOSTRUCTURES
  • B82Y30/00—Nanotechnology for materials or surface science, e.g. nanocomposites
• • D—TEXTILES; PAPER
  • D01—NATURAL OR MAN-MADE THREADS OR FIBRES; SPINNING
  • D01F—CHEMICAL FEATURES IN THE MANUFACTURE OF ARTIFICIAL FILAMENTS, THREADS, FIBRES, BRISTLES OR RIBBONS; APPARATUS SPECIALLY ADAPTED FOR THE MANUFACTURE OF CARBON FILAMENTS
  • D01F9/00—Artificial filaments or the like of other substances; Manufacture thereof; Apparatus specially adapted for the manufacture of carbon filaments
  • D01F9/08—Artificial filaments or the like of other substances; Manufacture thereof; Apparatus specially adapted for the manufacture of carbon filaments of inorganic material
  • D01F9/12—Carbon filaments; Apparatus specially adapted for the manufacture thereof
• • C—CHEMISTRY; METALLURGY
  • C01—INORGANIC CHEMISTRY
  • C01B—NON-METALLIC ELEMENTS; COMPOUNDS THEREOF; METALLOIDS OR COMPOUNDS THEREOF NOT COVERED BY SUBCLASS C01C
  • C01B32/00—Carbon; Compounds thereof
  • C01B32/15—Nano-sized carbon materials
  • C01B32/158—Carbon nanotubes
  • C01B32/16—Preparation
  • C01B32/162—Preparation characterised by catalysts
• • B—PERFORMING OPERATIONS; TRANSPORTING
  • B01—PHYSICAL OR CHEMICAL PROCESSES OR APPARATUS IN GENERAL
  • B01J—CHEMICAL OR PHYSICAL PROCESSES, e.g. CATALYSIS OR COLLOID CHEMISTRY; THEIR RELEVANT APPARATUS
  • B01J23/00—Catalysts comprising metals or metal oxides or hydroxides, not provided for in group B01J21/00
  • B01J23/70—Catalysts comprising metals or metal oxides or hydroxides, not provided for in group B01J21/00 of the iron group metals or copper
  • B01J23/74—Iron group metals
• • B—PERFORMING OPERATIONS; TRANSPORTING
  • B01—PHYSICAL OR CHEMICAL PROCESSES OR APPARATUS IN GENERAL
  • B01J—CHEMICAL OR PHYSICAL PROCESSES, e.g. CATALYSIS OR COLLOID CHEMISTRY; THEIR RELEVANT APPARATUS
  • B01J23/00—Catalysts comprising metals or metal oxides or hydroxides, not provided for in group B01J21/00
  • B01J23/70—Catalysts comprising metals or metal oxides or hydroxides, not provided for in group B01J21/00 of the iron group metals or copper
  • B01J23/74—Iron group metals
  • B01J23/745—Iron
• • B—PERFORMING OPERATIONS; TRANSPORTING
  • B01—PHYSICAL OR CHEMICAL PROCESSES OR APPARATUS IN GENERAL
  • B01J—CHEMICAL OR PHYSICAL PROCESSES, e.g. CATALYSIS OR COLLOID CHEMISTRY; THEIR RELEVANT APPARATUS
  • B01J23/00—Catalysts comprising metals or metal oxides or hydroxides, not provided for in group B01J21/00
  • B01J23/70—Catalysts comprising metals or metal oxides or hydroxides, not provided for in group B01J21/00 of the iron group metals or copper
  • B01J23/74—Iron group metals
  • B01J23/75—Cobalt
• • B—PERFORMING OPERATIONS; TRANSPORTING
  • B01—PHYSICAL OR CHEMICAL PROCESSES OR APPARATUS IN GENERAL
  • B01J—CHEMICAL OR PHYSICAL PROCESSES, e.g. CATALYSIS OR COLLOID CHEMISTRY; THEIR RELEVANT APPARATUS
  • B01J23/00—Catalysts comprising metals or metal oxides or hydroxides, not provided for in group B01J21/00
  • B01J23/70—Catalysts comprising metals or metal oxides or hydroxides, not provided for in group B01J21/00 of the iron group metals or copper
  • B01J23/74—Iron group metals
  • B01J23/755—Nickel
• • B—PERFORMING OPERATIONS; TRANSPORTING
  • B01—PHYSICAL OR CHEMICAL PROCESSES OR APPARATUS IN GENERAL
  • B01J—CHEMICAL OR PHYSICAL PROCESSES, e.g. CATALYSIS OR COLLOID CHEMISTRY; THEIR RELEVANT APPARATUS
  • B01J37/00—Processes, in general, for preparing catalysts; Processes, in general, for activation of catalysts
  • B01J37/08—Heat treatment
• • C—CHEMISTRY; METALLURGY
  • C01—INORGANIC CHEMISTRY
  • C01B—NON-METALLIC ELEMENTS; COMPOUNDS THEREOF; METALLOIDS OR COMPOUNDS THEREOF NOT COVERED BY SUBCLASS C01C
  • C01B32/00—Carbon; Compounds thereof
  • C01B32/15—Nano-sized carbon materials
  • C01B32/158—Carbon nanotubes
  • C01B32/16—Preparation
  • C01B32/164—Preparation involving continuous processes
• • D—TEXTILES; PAPER
  • D01—NATURAL OR MAN-MADE THREADS OR FIBRES; SPINNING
  • D01F—CHEMICAL FEATURES IN THE MANUFACTURE OF ARTIFICIAL FILAMENTS, THREADS, FIBRES, BRISTLES OR RIBBONS; APPARATUS SPECIALLY ADAPTED FOR THE MANUFACTURE OF CARBON FILAMENTS
  • D01F11/00—Chemical after-treatment of artificial filaments or the like during manufacture
  • D01F11/10—Chemical after-treatment of artificial filaments or the like during manufacture of carbon
  • D01F11/12—Chemical after-treatment of artificial filaments or the like during manufacture of carbon with inorganic substances ; Intercalation
• • D—TEXTILES; PAPER
  • D01—NATURAL OR MAN-MADE THREADS OR FIBRES; SPINNING
  • D01F—CHEMICAL FEATURES IN THE MANUFACTURE OF ARTIFICIAL FILAMENTS, THREADS, FIBRES, BRISTLES OR RIBBONS; APPARATUS SPECIALLY ADAPTED FOR THE MANUFACTURE OF CARBON FILAMENTS
  • D01F9/00—Artificial filaments or the like of other substances; Manufacture thereof; Apparatus specially adapted for the manufacture of carbon filaments
  • D01F9/08—Artificial filaments or the like of other substances; Manufacture thereof; Apparatus specially adapted for the manufacture of carbon filaments of inorganic material
  • D01F9/12—Carbon filaments; Apparatus specially adapted for the manufacture thereof
  • D01F9/127—Carbon filaments; Apparatus specially adapted for the manufacture thereof by thermal decomposition of hydrocarbon gases or vapours or other carbon-containing compounds in the form of gas or vapour, e.g. carbon monoxide, alcohols
• • B—PERFORMING OPERATIONS; TRANSPORTING
  • B82—NANOTECHNOLOGY
  • B82Y—SPECIFIC USES OR APPLICATIONS OF NANOSTRUCTURES; MEASUREMENT OR ANALYSIS OF NANOSTRUCTURES; MANUFACTURE OR TREATMENT OF NANOSTRUCTURES
  • B82Y40/00—Manufacture or treatment of nanostructures

Definitions

• the present invention relates to carbon nanotubes and fibers.
• Fibers are used for many different applications in a wide variety of industries, such as the commercial aviation, recreation, industrial and transportation industries. Commonly-used fibers for these and other applications include cellulosic fiber (e.g., viscose rayon, cotton, etc.), glass fiber, carbon fiber, and aramid fiber, to name just a few.
• cellulosic fiber e.g., viscose rayon, cotton, etc.
• glass fiber e.g., glass fiber
• carbon fiber e.g., aramid fiber
• the fibers are present in the form of a composite material (e.g., fiberglass, etc.).
• a composite material is a heterogeneous combination of two or more constituents that differ in form or composition on a macroscopic scale. While the composite material exhibits characteristics that neither constituent alone possesses, the constituents retain their unique physical and chemical identities within the composite.
• Two key constituents of a composite include a reinforcing agent and a resin matrix.
• the fibers are the reinforcing agent.
• the resin matrix keeps the fibers in a desired location and orientation and also serves as a load- transfer medium between fibers within the composite.
• Fibers are characterized by certain properties, such as mechanical strength, density, electrical resistivity, thermal conductivity, etc.
• the fibers "lend" their characteristic properties, in particular their strength-related properties, to the composite. Fibers therefore play an important role in determining a composite's suitability for a given application.
• sizing provides an all important physico-chemical link between fiber and the resin matrix and thus has a significant impact on the mechanical and chemical properties of the composite.
• the sizing is applied to fibers during their manufacture.
• the illustrative embodiment of the present invention is a carbon nanotube- infused (“CNT-infused”) fiber.
• the carbon nanotubes are "infused" to the parent fiber.
• infused means physically or chemically bonded and “infusion” means the process of physically or chemically bonding.
• the physical bond between the carbon nanotubes and parent fiber is believed to be due, at least in part, to van der Waals forces.
• the chemical bond between the carbon nanotubes and the parent fiber is believed to be a covalent bond.
• the bond that is formed between the carbon nanotubes and the parent fiber is quite robust and is responsible for CNT-infused fiber being able to exhibit or express carbon nanotube properties or characteristics.
• This is in stark contrast to some prior-art processes, wherein nanotubes are suspended/dispersed in a solvent solution and applied, by hand, to fiber. Because of the strong van der Waals attraction between the already-formed carbon nanotubes, it is extremely difficult to separate them to apply them directly to the fiber. As a consequence, the lumped nanotubes weakly adhere to the fiber and their characteristic nanotube properties are weakly expressed, if at all.
• infused carbon nanotubes disclosed herein effectively function as a replacement for conventional "sizing.” It has been found that infused carbon nanotubes are far more robust molecularly and from a physical properties perspective than conventional sizing materials. Furthermore, the infused carbon nanotubes improve the fiber-to-matrix interface in composite materials and, more generally, improve fiber-to- fiber interfaces.
• the CNT-infused fiber disclosed herein is itself similar to a composite material in the sense that its properties will be a combination of those of the parent fiber as well as those of the infused carbon nanotubes. Consequently, embodiments of the present invention provide a way to impart desired properties to a fiber that otherwise lacks such properties or possesses them in insufficient measure. Fibers can therefore be tailored or engineered to meet the requirements of a specific application. In this fashion, the utility and value of virtually any type of fiber can be improved.
• nanotubes are synthesized in place on the parent fiber itself. It is important that the carbon nanotubes are synthesized on the parent fiber. If not, the carbon nanotubes will become highly entangled and infusion does not occur. As seen from the prior art, non-infused carbon nanotubes impart little if any of their characteristic properties.
• the parent fiber can be any of a variety of different types of fibers, including, without limitation: carbon fiber, graphite fiber, metallic fiber (e.g., steel, aluminum, etc.), ceramic fiber, metallic-ceramic fiber, glass fiber, cellulosic fiber, aramid fiber.
• nanotubes are synthesized on the parent fiber by applying or infusing a nanotube-forming catalyst, such as iron, nickel, cobalt, or a combination thereof, to the fiber.
• a nanotube-forming catalyst such as iron, nickel, cobalt, or a combination thereof
• operations of the CNT-infusion process include:
• the infused carbon nanotubes are single-wall nanotubes. In some other embodiments, the infused carbon nanotubes are multi-wall nanotubes. In some further embodiments, the infused carbon nanotubes are a combination of single-wall and multi-wall nanotubes. There are some differences in the characteristic properties of single-wall and multi-wall nanotubes that, for some end uses of the fiber, dictate the synthesis of one or the other type of nanotube. For example, single-walled nanotubes can be excellent conductors of electricity while multi-walled nanotubes are not.
• carbon nanotubes lend their characteristic properties (e.g., exceptional mechanical strength, low to moderate electrical resistivity, high thermal conductivity, etc.) to the CNT-infused fiber.
• the extent to which the resulting CNT-infused fiber expresses these characteristics is a function of the extent and density of coverage of the parent fiber by the carbon nanotubes.
• CNT infusion is used to provide an improved filament winding process.
• carbon nanotubes are formed on fibers (e.g., graphite tow, glass roving, etc.), as described above, and are then passed through a resin bath to produce resin-impregnated, CNT-infused fiber. After resin impregnation, the fiber is positioned on the surface of a rotating mandrel by a delivery head. The fiber then winds onto the mandrel in a precise geometric pattern in known fashion.
• the filament winding process described above provides pipes, tubes, or other forms as are characteristically produced via a male mold. But the forms made from the filament winding process disclosed herein differ from those produced via conventional filament winding processes. Specifically, in the process disclosed herein, the forms are made from composite materials that include CNT-infused fibers. Such forms will therefore benefit from enhanced strength, etc., as provided by the CNT- infused fibers.
• CNT-infused carbon fiber addresses this problem by providing a fiber that is sized with infused nanotubes, which provides the desired broad applicability with a variety of resins and processes.
• FIG. 1 depicts a method for producing CNT-infused fiber in accordance with the illustrative embodiment of the present invention.
• FIG. 2 depicts a system for implementing the illustrative method for producing CNT-infused fiber.
• FIG. 3 depicts a system for filament winding in accordance with a variation of the illustrative embodiment.
• Continuous Filament Strand A fiber bundle composed of many filaments. Also, when referring to gun roving; a collection of string-like fiber or yarn, which is fed through a chopper gun in a spray-up process.
• Fabric A planar textile structure produced by interlacing yarns, fibers, or filaments.
• Fiber - A unit of matter either natural, or manufactured, which forms the basic element of fabrics and other textile structures.
• Filament A single fiber of an indefinite or extreme length, either natural (e.g., silk, etc.) or manufactured. Typically microns in diameter, manufactured fibers are extruded into filaments that are converted into filament yarn, staple, or tow.
• Filament Winding A process which involves winding a resin-saturated strand of glass filament around a rotating mandrel.
• Filament Yarn - A yarn composed of continuous filaments assembled with, or without twist.
• Matrix The liquid component of a composite or laminate.
• Mandrel The core around which paper-, fabric-, or resin-impregnated fiber is wound to form pipes, tubes, or vessels; in extrusion, the central finger of a pipe or tubing die.
• Resin - A liquid polymer that, when catalyzed, cures to a solid state.
• Twist - A term that applies to the number of turns and the direction that two yarns are turned during the manufacturing process.
• Yarn - A generic term for a continuous strand of textile fibers, filaments, or material in a form suitable for knitting, weaving, braiding, or otherwise intertwining to form a textile fabric.
• FIG. 1 depicts a flow diagram of process 100 for producing CNT-infused fiber in accordance with the illustrative embodiment of the present invention.
• Process 100 includes the operations of:
• the carbon nanotubes are synthesized directly on the parent fiber. In the illustrative embodiment, this is accomplished by disposing nanotube-forming catalyst on the parent fiber, as per operation 102.
• Suitable catalysts for carbon nanotube formation include, without limitation, transition metal catalysts (e.g., iron, nickel, cobalt, combinations thereof, etc.).
• the catalyst is prepared as a liquid solution that contains nano-sized particles of catalyst.
• the diameters of the synthesized nanotubes are related to the size of the metal particles.
• carbon nanotube synthesis is based on a plasma-enhanced chemical vapor deposition process and occurs at elevated temperatures.
• the temperature is a function of catalyst, but will typically be in a range of about 500 to 1000 °C. Accordingly, operation 104 requires heating the parent fiber to a temperature in the aforementioned range to support carbon nanotube synthesis.
• carbon plasma is sprayed onto the catalyst-laden parent fiber.
• the plasma can be generated, for example, by passing a carbon containing gas (e.g., acetylene, ethylene, ethanol, etc.) through an electric field that is capable of ionizing the gas.
• a carbon containing gas e.g., acetylene, ethylene, ethanol, etc.
• Nanotubes grow at the sites of the metal catalyst.
• the presence of the strong plasma-creating electric field can affect nanotube growth. That is, the growth tends to follow the direction of the electric field.
• vertically-aligned carbon nanotubes ⁇ i.e., perpendicular to the fiber) are synthesized. Under certain conditions, even in the absence of a plasma, closely-spaced nanotubes will maintain a vertical growth direction resulting in a dense array of tubes resembling a carpet or forest.
• FIG. 2 depicts system 200 for producing CNT-infused fiber in accordance with the illustrative embodiment of the present invention.
• System 200 includes fiber payout and tensioner station 202, fiber spreader station 208, sizing removal station 210, CNT-infusion station 212, fiber bundler station 222, and fiber uptake bobbin 224, interrelated as shown.
• Payout and tension station 202 includes payout bobbin 204 and tensioner 206.
• the payout bobbin delivers fiber 201 to the process; the fiber is tensioned via tensioner 206.
• Fiber 201 is delivered to fiber spreader station 208.
• the fiber spreader separates the individual elements of the fiber.
• Various techniques and apparatuses can be used to spread fiber, such as pulling the fiber over and under flat, uniform-diameter bars, or over and under variable-diameter bars, or over bars with radially-expanding grooves and a kneading roller, over a vibratory bar, etc.
• Spreading the fiber enhances the effectiveness of downstream operations, such as catalyst application and plasma application, by exposing more fiber surface area.
• Payout and tension station 202 and fiber spreader station 208 are routinely used in the fiber industry; those skilled in the art will be familiar with their design and use.
• Fiber 201 then travels to sizing removal station 210. At this station, any "sizing" that is on fiber 201 is removed. Typically, removal is accomplished by burning the sizing off of the fiber.
• any of a variety of heating means can be used for this purpose, including, without limitation, an infrared heater, a muffle furnace, etc. Generally, non-contact heating methods are preferred. In some alternative embodiments, sizing removal is accomplished chemically.
• the temperature and time required for burning off the sizing vary as a function of (1) the sizing material (e.g., silane, etc.); and (2) the identity of parent fiber 201 (e.g., glass, cellulosic, carbon, etc.).
• the burn-off temperature is a minimum of about 650 °C. At this temperature, it can take as long as 15 minutes to ensure a complete burn off of the sizing. Increasing the temperature above a minimum burn temperature should reduce burn-off time. Thermogravimetric analysis can be used to determine minimum burn-off temperature for sizing.
• sizing removal is the slow step in the overall CNT-infusion process.
• a sizing removal station is not included in the CNT-infusion process proper; rather, removal is performed separately (e.g., in parallel, etc.).
• an inventory of sizing-free fiber can be accumulated and spooled for use in a CNT-infused fiber production line that does not include a fiber removal station).
• sizing-free fiber is spooled in payout and tension station 202. This production line can be operated at higher speed than one that includes sizing removal.
• Sizing-free fiber 205 is delivered to CNT-infusion station 212, which is the "heart" of the process and system depicted in FIG. 2.
• Station 212 includes catalyst application station 214, fiber pre-heater station 216, plasma spray station 218, and fiber heaters 220.
• sizing-free fiber 205 proceeds first to catalyst application station 214.
• fiber 205 is cooled prior to catalyst application.
• the nanotube-forming catalyst is a liquid solution of nanometer-sized particles (e.g., 10 nanometers in diameter, etc.) of a transition metal.
• Typical transition metals for use in synthesizing nanotubes include, without limitation, iron, iron oxide, cobalt, nickel, or combinations thereof. These transition metal catalysts are readily commercially available from a variety of suppliers, including Ferrotech of Nashua, NH.
• the liquid is a solvent such as toluene, etc.
• the catalyst solution is sprayed, such as by air sprayer 214, onto fiber 205.
• the transition metal catalyst is deposited on the parent fiber using evaporation techniques, electrolytic deposition techniques, suspension dipping techniques and other methods known to those skilled in the art.
• the transition metal catalyst is added to the plasma feedstock gas as a metal organic, metal salt or other composition promoting gas phase transport.
• the catalyst can be applied at room temperature in the ambient environment (neither vacuum nor an inert atmosphere is required).
• Catalyst-laden fiber 207 is then heated at fiber preheater station 216.
• the fiber should be heated until it softens.
• a good estimate of the softening temperature for any particular fiber is readily obtained from reference sources, as is known to those skilled in the art. To the extent that this temperature is not a priori known for a particular fiber, it can be readily determined by experimentation.
• the fiber is typically heated to a temperature that is in the range of about 500 to 1000 °C. Any of a variety of heating elements can be used as the fiber preheater, such as, without limitation, infrared heaters, a muffle furnace, and the like.
• fiber 207 is finally advanced to plasma spray station having spray nozzles 218.
• a carbon plasma is generated, for example, by passing a carbon containing gas (e.g., acetylene, ethylene, ethanol, etc.) through an electric field that is capable of ionizing the gas.
• This cold carbon plasma is directed, via spray nozzles 218, to fiber 207.
• the fiber is disposed within about 1 centimeter of the spray nozzles to receive the plasma.
• heaters 220 are disposed above fiber 207 at the plasma sprayers to maintain the elevated temperature of the fiber.
• CNT-infused fiber 209 is re-bundled at fiber bundler 222. This operation recombines the individual strands of the fiber, effectively reversing the spreading operation that was conducted at station 208.
• the bundled, CNT-infused fiber 209 is wound about uptake fiber bobbin 224 for storage. CNT-infused fiber 209 is then ready for use in any of a variety of applications, including, without limitation, for use as the reinforcing material in composite materials.
• FIG. 3 depicts a further embodiment of the invention wherein CNT-infused fiber is created as a sub-operation of a filament winding process being conducted via filament winding system 300.
• System 300 comprises fiber creel 302, carbon nanotube infusion section 226, resin bath 328, and filament winding mandrel 332, interrelated as shown.
• the various elements of system 300, with the exception of carbon nanotube infusion section 226, are present in conventional filament winding processes.
• the "heart" of the process and system depicted in FIG. 3 is the carbon nanotube infusion section 226, which includes fiber spreader station 208, (optional) sizing-removal station 210, and CNT-infusion station 212.
• Fiber creel 302 includes plural spools 204 of parent fiber 201A through 201H.
• the untwisted group of fibers 201A through 201H is referred to collectively as "tow 303."
• the term “tow” generally refers to a group of graphite fibers and the term “roving” usually refers to glass fibers.
• the term “tow” is meant to refer, generically, to any type of fiber.
• creel 302 holds spools 204 in a horizontal orientation.
• the fiber from each spool 206 moves through small, appropriately situated rollers/tensioners 206 that change the direction of the fibers as they move out of creel 302 and toward carbon nanotube infusion section 226.
• the spooled fiber that is used in system 300 is CNT-infused fiber (i.e. , produced via system 200). In such embodiments, system 300 is operated without nanotube infusion section 226.
• tow 303 is spread, sizing is removed, nanotube-forming catalyst is applied, the tow is heated, and carbon plasma is sprayed on the fiber, as described in conjunction with FIG. 2.
• CNT-infused tow 307 is delivered to resin bath 328.
• the resin bath contains resin for the production of a composite material comprising the CNT-infused fiber and the resin.
• Some important commercially-available resin-matrix families include general purpose polyester (e.g., orthophthalic polyesters, etc.), improved polyester (e.g., isophthalic polyesters, etc.), epoxy, and vinyl ester.
• Resin bath can be implemented in a variety of ways, two of which are described below.
• resin bath 328 is implemented as a doctor blade roller bath wherein a polished rotating cylinder (e.g., cylinder 330) that is disposed in the bath picks up resin as it turns.
• the doctor bar (not depicted in FIG. 3) presses against the cylinder to obtain a precise resin film thickness on cylinder 330 and pushes excess resin back into the bath.
• resin bath 328 is realized as an immersion bath wherein fiber tow 307 is simply submerged into resin and then pulled through a set of wipers or roller that remove excess resin.
• resin-wetted, CNT-infused fiber tows 309 is passed through various rings, eyelets and, typically, a multi-pin "comb" (not depicted) that is disposed behind a delivery head (not depicted).
• the comb keeps the fiber tows 2309 separate until they are brought together in a single combined band on rotating mandrel 332.
• EXAMPLE A CNT-infused carbon fiber was formed in accordance with the illustrative embodiment.
• a current was passed through carbon fiber (the parent fiber) to heat it to approximately 800 °C to remove epoxy sizing material. The fiber was then cooled to room temperature and left clamped between electrodes.
• a ferro-fluid catalyst was applied to the fiber using an aerosol spray technique. The fiber was allowed to dry and the chamber was closed, evacuated and filled with argon.
• a current was passed through the carbon fiber again to heat it to approximately 800 C for carbon nanotube synthesis.
• a carbon plasma was generated from acetylene precursor using 13.56 MHz microwave energy using an atmospheric pressure plasma jet.
• the carrier gas in the plasma jet was helium at 20 standard liters per minute (slm) and the argon was provided at 1.2 slm.
• the plasma jet was fixtured to a robotic motion control system allowing the plasma jet to move over the length of the fiber at a speed between 6 and 12 inches per minute.
• the CNT-infused fiber was then cooled to room temperature and removed from the chamber. Scanning Electron Microscopy showed carbon nanotube formation on the surface of the parent carbon fiber.

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• Chemical & Material Sciences (AREA)
• Engineering & Computer Science (AREA)
• Materials Engineering (AREA)
• Organic Chemistry (AREA)
• Nanotechnology (AREA)
• Chemical Kinetics & Catalysis (AREA)
• Physics & Mathematics (AREA)
• Inorganic Chemistry (AREA)
• General Physics & Mathematics (AREA)
• Crystallography & Structural Chemistry (AREA)
• Condensed Matter Physics & Semiconductors (AREA)
• Thermal Sciences (AREA)
• General Chemical & Material Sciences (AREA)
• Textile Engineering (AREA)
• Composite Materials (AREA)
• Manufacturing & Machinery (AREA)
• Chemical Or Physical Treatment Of Fibers (AREA)
• Carbon And Carbon Compounds (AREA)
• Treatments For Attaching Organic Compounds To Fibrous Goods (AREA)
• Inorganic Fibers (AREA)
• Reinforced Plastic Materials (AREA)
• Yarns And Mechanical Finishing Of Yarns Or Ropes (AREA)
• Compositions Of Macromolecular Compounds (AREA)
• Artificial Filaments (AREA)

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