Patent Application
20250034351
Carbon nanotubes (CNTs), which resemble, but are not made from, rolled-up graphene sheets, exhibit unique physical and chemical properties that emerge as a direct result of their structure. This structure in turn results from the chiral vector from which the nanotube could be formed if it were constructed from an actual two-dimensional graphene sheet. The bonding arrangement of graphene, a plane of conjugated hexagonal carbon atoms, restricts the nanotube to three possible types, which are termed as ‘zigzag,’ ‘armchair,’ or ‘chiral;’ each type shows unique electrical properties. For example, the armchair type is highly conductive, and the zigzag and chiral types are semiconductive.
Both single-walled carbon nanotubes (SWCNTs) and multi-walled carbon nanotubes (MWCNTs) can be produced, with the latter containing at least one, but often many, concentric SWCNTs. Conditions in synthesis lead to differences in tube length and diameter distributions, as well as to the presence of carbonaceous byproduct or transition metal catalyst impurities. But, regardless of these variations, and in part due to the inherent chemistry of CNTs, the scaled up production methods yield bundles of hundreds to thousands of intertwined, rather than discrete, CNTs. The inter-tube attraction responsible for these bundles is considered to be the most significant hurdle towards fully exploiting the CNT's desirable properties when incorporating them into a polymer.
As isolated objects, CNTs have been primarily the focus of academic studies; however, when incorporated into a polymer to form a composite they then find utility in functional applications. Upon incorporation, as-manufactured CNTs can impart a portion of their properties to the encapsulating matrix. This imbuement is drastically improved when (1) the strong van der Waals forces binding the tubes are disrupted, and as a result, they are homogeneously dispersed throughout the matrix, and (2) when the CNT/matrix interfacial attractive interaction is maximized. Two key strategies toward accomplishing these goals have emerged: covalent functionalization of the CNT surface and non-covalent functionalization of the CNT surface.
Covalent functionalization typically involves the breaking of the CNT's conjugated system and the subsequent addition of a functional group (carboxylic, amino, or other). While this functionalization can generate stronger attractive interaction in the composite (as well as with other resident fillers), it comes at a cost. Covalent functionalization entails the conversion of a primarily sp2 hybridized system to a system that contains sp3 hybridized localities, with the concentration of these localities growing commensurately with the degree of functionalization. Furthermore, it has been reported that the harsh chemical treatment necessary to attach these moieties often leads to drastically reduced nanotube aspect ratios, which severely limit their practical usage as fillers in matrices. To this day, very few, if any, methods have been devised to implement the covalent functionalization methods at production scale.
Non-covalent functionalization offers an alternative approach for exfoliating and incorporating CNTs into a polymer matrix without sacrificing their structure or electron transport capabilities. The non-covalent approach involves solvents, preferably surfactants, capable of penetrating the gaps between the bundled CNTs and securing their solubilized colloidal stability. This mechanism of physical adsorption, rather than chemical reaction, preserves the conjugated structure of the nanotubes; it materializes from a collection of interactions, including, but not limited to, van der Waals, π-π, and CH-π.
Several non-covalent functionalization methods have been reported. It has been shown that the favorable interactions afforded by appropriate solvent and surfactant choice facilitate the exfoliation and stability of unbundled nanotubes. The effectiveness of this technique is further enhanced when the process involves a mixing step with high shear rates; however, an overly intense shear rate (e.g., high power jet mixing, ultrasonication, etc.) will reduce the aspect ratio of the nanotubes as well as introduce undesirable impurities along nanotube sidewalls and endcaps, thereby partially negating the benefits of the method.
In view of the above difficulties associated with incorporating CNTs for use in practical applications, this document describes a new method to make composite matrices such as rubber compounds at production scale, based on streamlining the non-covalent functionalization of CNTs with various processing techniques. The method described herein is especially useful for inexpensively producing electrically conductive composite matrices that retain their elastomeric properties.
In the present study, non-covalent treatments of carbon nanotubes (CNTs) are considered, and mixtures thereof are generated. The resultant treated mixture is then mixed with a polymer to obtain a composite matrix. The composite matrix may be further processed to produce finished products. The process steps are configured to achieve the production scale fabrication of polymer-based products such as high-performance rubber compounds. The initial treatments impart a conditioning that exfoliates and debundles the CNT bundles to mostly individual tubes. Other additives may be included in the treated mixture to produce the finished products with enhanced electrical, thermal, mechanical, and other properties. Some examples of the present implementations and applications are explained below. Although specific values are cited herein to explain various steps, experiments and results, it should be understood that these are example values, approximate values, and/or values within instrumental tolerances or resolutions, as can be understood by one with ordinary skill in the art.
In general, a batch of raw CNTs off-the-shelf contains bundled CNTs. Thus, the procedure employed to disperse CNTs in a solution has a significant impact on the final suspension characteristics, thereby affecting the electrical and thermal conductivities, especially in high-performance composite matrices. As mentioned earlier, a number of technical approaches, including covalent and non-covalent functionalization of CNTs, can be adopted to prepare a stable and homogeneous dispersion of CNTs. In the present process, the non-covalent approach is employed since the surface structure and electrical conductivities of the CNTs remain substantially intact. Specifically, it is possible to exfoliate and debundle the bundled CNTs without substantially sacrificing the structure and electron transport capabilities inherent in individual CNTs via non-covalent functionalization. This is because the non-covalent approach utilizes solvents or surfactants capable of penetrating the gaps between the bundled CNTs through the mechanism of physical adsorption, rather than chemical reaction, thereby substantially preserving the structure and electrical properties inherent in individual CNTs.
In step 108, one or more inorganic surfactants are provided to carry out the non-covalent functionalization of the CNTs. Specifically, a combination of two or more fluid polymers or a single fluid polymer can be selected to optimally facilitate attraction to and adsorption along the surfaces of CNTs. Each of these fluid polymers may comprise a linear, branched, or cyclic polysiloxane backbone and contains pendant or terminal substituents. These substituents are selected to complement each other in their interaction with CNTs. It has been reported that certain moieties strongly interact with the x-electron rich surfaces of CNTs; thus, the less bulky moieties can penetrate the interstices of CNT bundles, thereby facilitating their exfoliation and debundling. Here, “moieties” are branches in organic or inorganic molecules that extend from the carbon or siloxane backbone, including: the methyl group (CH3), the hydroxyl group (COH), silanol group (SiOH), the aryl group (such as phenyl and naphthyl groups), or a combination thereof.
As mentioned above, the present study has shown that one or more inorganic surfactants, such as a vinyl terminated polydimethylsiloxane, a vinyl terminated diphenylsiloxane dimethylsiloxane, a silanol terminated polydimethylsiloxane, a hydride terminated polyphenyl-(dimethylhydrosiloxy) siloxane, a hydride terminated polyphenylmethylsiloxane, a hydride terminated polyphenyl-(dimethylsiloxy) siloxane, or a combination thereof, can efficiently penetrate bundled CNTs and adsorb along the surfaces of individual CNTs. These polysiloxane-based fluid polymers show a viscosity ranging from 0.01 to 10 Pa·s measured at 25° C., with the actual viscosity corresponding to the molecular weight of the polymer. In some cases, a combination of a low viscosity fluid polymer (e.g., silanol terminated) and a higher viscosity fluid polymer (e.g., phenylated) is expected to adsorb onto individual CNTs more efficiently than when using only a low viscosity or only a higher viscosity fluid polymer. As described later, the present study has shown that optimal results can be obtained when a silanol terminated fluid polymer, e.g., silanol terminated polydimethylsiloxane, is used as a single inorganic surfactant, rather than using a combination of two or more different inorganic surfactants. The weight percentage of CNT may be in the range of 10 wt. %-90 wt. % of the total weight of a mixture of the CNT and one or more inorganic surfactants. In one example, 23 wt. % CNT and 77 wt. % silanol terminated polydimethylsiloxane are used.
Depending on the properties required in the finished product, one or more additives may be provided in step 112 as ingredients of the treated mixture to enhance the specific properties. Thus, the first mixing in step 116 can be carried out to mix the CNTs and one or more inorganic surfactants, with or without one or more additives, which are herein termed first additives. Each of some possible first additives is explained below.
One or more cure modifiers may be added as the first additives to generate the treated mixture. It has been reported that CNTs, when untreated, can interfere with common (platinum-based, peroxide-based, or sulfur-based) rubber cure systems. Here, a “rubber cure system” refers to the chemical ingredients included in a rubber formulation that enable the formation of a thermoset after a curing procedure, e.g., application of heat and/or pressure. This interference can be seen in cure profiles as well as finished products. This is specifically seen in a certain type of cured silicone rubber, e.g., platinum cured silicone rubber having silicon-hydride crosslinkers, that undergo hydrosilylation cure reactions. Details related to optimizing hydrosilylation cure reactions in silicone rubber are explained later in this document, wherein the CNT encapsulation in the composite matrix is improved.
The addition of one or more cure modifiers depends on the type and required properties of the finished article. Furthermore, they can be added, if needed, at the later stage of the process, e.g., just before the curing process. It should be noted, however, that incorporation of the needed cure modifiers in the treated mixture from the outset makes the preparation stage integrative, thereby further streamlining the entire process, in addition to improving the CNT encapsulation in the composite matrix.
Carbon black may be added as the first additive to generate the treated mixture. Carbon black is a material produced by the incomplete combustion of petroleum products and has a form of para-crystalline carbon. It is conventionally used as a reinforcing filler in tires and other rubber products. Examples of a high-purity, conductive grade of carbon black include Tokai Black #5500 (from Tokai headquartered in Japan) and Denka Black Li-400 (from Denka headquartered in Japan), which are acetylene-based. In general, when conductive black fillers such as CNTs or carbon blacks are dispersed in insulating polymers, the electrical percolation threshold is characterized by a sharp drop, by several orders of magnitude, in the electrical resistance. The electrical percolation threshold is associated with the formation of an interconnecting conductive network of fillers in the host medium. As compared to a medium filled only with carbon black, a medium containing only CNTs that exhibit a much higher aspect ratio, can attain an electrical percolation threshold at a much lower filler percentage. However, it has been reported that incorporation of both CNTs and carbon blacks in the host medium produces synergistic effects arising from each participating in the formation of the interconnecting conductive network. As shown in the later described examples, the carbon black added in the treated mixture functions synergistically with the CNTs to bridge electron transport pathways and enhance the electrically conductive network in the composite matrix, more than in the case of including only CNTs.
A partitioning agent may be added as the first additive to generate the treated mixture. Examples of nano-or micro-scale partitioning agents include glass beads, glass bubbles, and electrically conductive metal powders. Examples of such partitioning agents include 3M™ Glass Bubbles iM30K and Glass Bubbles iM16K (from 3M headquartered in the USA). The addition of these ingredients is expected to facilitate unbundling of CNTs during the subsequent first mixing stage 116 due to a ball-bearing grinding effect. Additionally, it has been reported that incorporation of glass beads (GB) in the combination of silicone and MWCNTs significantly improves the dispersion of MWCNTs in the silicone; specifically, the electrical conductivity of the silicone/MWCNT/GB composite was approximately two times higher than that of the composite without GBs due to the improved distribution uniformity of MWCNTs in the silicone. Furthermore, the presence of GBs is expected to improve the mechanical properties, such as the tensile strength and elongation at break of the composite, in addition to the electrical conductivity. As shown in the later described examples, the partitioning agent, e.g., glass bubbles, added in the treated mixture improves the distribution uniformity of the CNTs, e.g., SWCNTs, thereby enhancing the electrical conductivity and the mechanical properties in the composite matrix.
A concentrating agent or a blowing agent may be added as a first additive to generate the treated mixture. Examples of concentrating or blowing agents include foaming agents, composites containing expandable cells, and other void-changing agents, which function to increase void space and enhance the interconnecting conductive network and improve the electrical conductivity in the composite matrix. Examples of thermally expandable thermoplastic microspheres comprise a polymer shell made from ethylenically unsaturated monomers encapsulating a propellant commonly known by the brand Expancel® Microsphere Products (from Nouryon headquartered in the Netherlands). In view of the entire process flow, the expanding spheres are added to generate the treated mixture in the first mixing 116, then the treated mixture is mixed with one or more polymers in the second mixing 316, then during the process, the spheres first expand upon heating, then the curing 320 of the composite matrix results in locking the expanded cells permanently. It has been shown that blowing agents, such as those based on azodicarbonamide and p-p′-oxybis (benzenesulfonyl hydrazide) accelerated with treated urea provide micro-formation and cellular structure in cured-fabricated articles. These agents can be added as first additives to generate the treated mixture in like manner to the composites containing expandable cells. In silicones specifically, foaming agents can be used to create void spaces upon heating and cure during the process. These agents include a combination of water, silicon-hydride crosslinkers, and phenyl silicone. The phenyl silicone fluid is selected from those comprised of a linear polysiloxane chain where pendant groups of methyl-phenyl or diphenyl are substituted with dimethyl along the polysiloxane backbone and has a viscosity measured at 23° C., of 0.01 to 10 Pa·s. When added to generate the treated mixture and then incorporated into the polymer matrix, these agents, upon curing, will efficiently foam the composite matrix through the creation of many nucleation sites that give rise to the generation of micro-foaming bubbles that grow to maintain a surface skin.
After the provisions of all the necessary ingredients in step 104-112 above, the ingredients are put in a first mixer and mixed therein in the first mixing step 116 of
In general, the conventional mixing methods for non-covalent functionalization include the use of a jet mixer, a sonicator, or other high-cost, high-power machines with high shear rates; i.e. shear rates above 100,000 l/s. For example, typical shear rates produced by jet mixers are more than 100,000 l/s, which often damage CNTs. Sonication applied by sonicators also shortens the CNTs, thereby reducing the aspect ratio and significantly diminishing their usefulness as an electrically conductive filler. Furthermore, the sonication naturally generates heat, requiring cooling during the procedure. In contrast, as explained with reference to the first mixing step 116 above, a mixer with low shear rates in the range of 100-100,000 l/s is employed in the present process for mixing the CNTs and other ingredients to obtain a treated mixture that contains substantially debundled CNTs with minimal breakage, with high-quality dispersion characteristics.
In step 308, the treated mixture in the as-generated form obtained in step 100 or in the pressed form obtained in step 200, is provided. In step 312, depending on the properties required in the finished product, other ingredients may be added to enhance the specific properties. Thus, the second mixing in step 316 can be carried out to mix one or more polymers and the treated mixture obtained according to the previous steps as illustrated in
After the provisions of all the necessary ingredients in step 304-312 above, the ingredients are put in a second mixer and mixed therein in the second mixing step 316 of
In step 320, the polymer-based mixture, i.e., raw composite matrix, generated by the above mixing is subject to a curing process, in which it is irreversibly hardened to produce a thermoset. In general, curing is induced by heat or suitable radiation and may be promoted by high pressure or mixing with a catalyst. The catalyst can be added in the second mixing step 316. For the present curing, a transition metal-based catalyst, which is synthesized from platinic chloride and chloroplatinic acid, may be used. Curing is based on chemical reactions that create extensive crosslinking between polymer chains to produce a substantially infusible and insoluble polymer network. Accordingly, the composite matrix with intended properties is stabilized and obtained in step 324.
Referring back to the pressing procedure in step 200 of
Referring back to step 112 in
An additional issue comes to light when processing the composite matrix containing CNTs. As described, the composite matrix is optimized when carbon nanotubes are exfoliated from bundles of CNTs into separate, individual tubes. These individual tubes must also be fully encapsulated within the composite matrix. Any exposed CNTs, or uncured composite matrix containing CNTs, will impart an undesirable surface effect where the exposed tubes can be removed by wear or abrasion, and lead to black marking of surfaces on contact. This is sometimes referred to as sloughing, as the CNTs produce a black, oil-like residue along the surface of the composite matrix.
To rectify the negative effects CNTs have on the composite matrix, the present study includes the use of cure modifiers comprised of a hydrosilylation reaction precursor which includes a hydrosilylation crosslinker and a reaction inhibitor, added in the treated mixture in the first mixing in step 116. The addition of crosslinker compensates for the absorption by way of the CNTs and balances the Si—H to vinyl stoichiometric ratio in the hydrosilylation reaction. The addition of inhibitor allows the composite matrix to be cured at higher temperatures without causing undesirable problems with scorch (defined as premature curing). These higher process temperatures afford a more expansive and complete crosslink formation, which in turn enables the polymer links to more fully encapsulate the individual CNTs. The surface of the composite matrix is clean and contains fully encapsulated CNTs. It has been reported that the hydrosilylation inhibitor blocks the activation of the transition metal catalyst synthesized from platinic chloride and chloroplatinic acid. These platinum divinyl tetramethyldisiloxane complexes, known as Karstedt catalyst complexes, are typically: platinum (0)-1,3-divinyl, 1,1,3,3-tetramethyldisiloxane), platinum (0)-2,4,6,8-tetramethyl-2,4,6,8-tetravinylcyclotetrasiloxane complex, bis (acetylacetonato) platinum, (m-cyclopentadienyl) trialkylplatinum complexes, platinum triazenido complexes, platinum, iron, palladium and rhodium complexes, or any combination thereof.
The following formulations exemplify how addition of a crosslinker and an inhibitor as the cure modifiers is done, specifically wherein a hydrosilylation reaction precursor comprised of a hydrosilylation crosslinker and a reaction inhibitor is used. Note that phr in the tables below is defined as parts per hundred rubber; the values in the formulations can be converted to a percentage by dividing the ingredient amount by the total amount and multiplying by 100.
Table 1 is a list of the phr values used for Formulation Example 1, which is a less optimal formulation example, resulting in a composite matrix characterized by a high degree of adhesion to a mold and other substrates, and poor CNT encapsulation (sloughing).
Table 2 is a list of the phr values employed for Formulation Example 2, which is a more optimal formulation example, resulting in a composite matrix characterized by low adhesion to a mold and other substrates and good CNT encapsulation.
In the above Tables 1 and 2, the column “1st Mixing” relates to step 116 of mixing the CNTs and the inorganic surfactants, with or without one or more first additives, for generating the treated mixture; the column “2nd Mixing” relates to step 316 of mixing the polymer and the treated mixture, with or without one or more second additives, for making the composite matrix; and the column “Combined 1st+2nd Mixing” lists the combined total of all the ingredients in both the 1st mixing and the 2nd mixing.
In the “Combined 1st+2nd Mixing” column in Table 2, the level of the crosslinker was lowered from 3.55 phr to 0.73 phr and added only in the 1st mixing, while the level of the inhibitor was increased from 0.28 phr to 0.56 phr with a half of it being added to each of the 1st and 2nd mixing. The present experiments show that the cure modifier added in this sequence, first in the 1st mixing, as part of the treated mixture, better maintains the stoichiometric balance of Si—H to vinyl and allows for improved CNT encapsulation in the resultant composite matrix.
To further show the change in cured properties due to the hydrosilylation reaction precursor of the cure modifier, the table below shows how the addition of the cure modifier in the 1st mixing changes the time to begin curing (TS2) and the time to cure completion (TC90). These cure speeds are directly related to cure efficiency. In general, the cure efficiency tends to decrease when CNTs are included in the mixing. One solution to this problem is to add the cure modifier in the 2nd mixing as in the formulation example in Table 1 above; however, this often results in a composite matrix with a high degree of adhesion to a mold and other substrates, and poor CNT encapsulation (sloughing). A preferred method is to add the cure modifier in the 1st mixing as in Table 2. Table 3 below shows that the cure efficiency improves when the cure modifier is added in this manner, wherein the cure speeds get close to the values in the case of “Without Treated CNT Mixture,” e.g., TS2=30 sec and TC90 =66 sec (at 177° C.). Specifically, the levels of crosslinker and inhibitor of the cure modifier in the 1st mixing can be adjusted to bring the cure efficiency back for providing a high throughput, thereby achieving economically-produced composite matrices.
The composition of a cure modifier may include a hydrosilylation reaction precursor having a straight chain organohydrogen polysiloxane, a generalized molecular description of which is illustrated in
In the present study, various experiments have been conducted to generate composite matrices by using the above-described method based on incorporation of CNTs, and their characteristics and properties are analyzed to understand the effects arising from the CNTs and various additives. The results and special technical features are described below with reference to
Two types of treated mixtures, Treated Mixture 1 and Treated Mixture 2, are generated based on the first mixing, as explained earlier with reference to FIG. 2. FIGS. 8 and 9 are tables listing the ingredients used to generate Treated Mixture 1 and Treated Mixture 2, respectively. The weight percent (wt. %) of each ingredient in the treated mixture is shown in the rightmost column in each table. Here, SWCNT powder with a carbon purity of 99% or higher is used as the CNT; the terms CNT and SWCNT are used interchangeably in the tables and charts in
The treated mixture generated based on the first mixing is then mixed with one or more polymers and second additives based on the second mixing to generate a mixture, i.e., composite matrix (as-processed/raw), which may be cured to generate composite matrix in the present experiments, as explained earlier with reference to
FIG. 14 includes formulation details for the base silicone rubber and the silicone composite matrices obtained by mixing the base silicone rubber formulation and Treated Mixture 1 with the effective SWCNT weight percent of 1 wt. %, 2 wt. %, and 3 wt. %, respectively.
While this document contains many specifics, these should not be construed as limitations on the scope of an invention or of what may be claimed, but rather as descriptions of features specific to particular embodiments of the invention. Certain features that are described in this document in the context of separate embodiments can also be implemented in combination in a single embodiment. Conversely, various features that are described in the context of a single embodiment can also be implemented in multiple embodiments separately or in any suitable subcombination. Moreover, although features may be described above as acting in certain combinations and even initially claimed as such, one or more features from a claimed combination can in some cases be exercised from the combination, and the claimed combination may be directed to a subcombination or a variation of a subcombination.
This application is a Divisional of U.S. patent application Ser. No. 17/398,977, filed on Aug. 10, 2021, which claims the benefit of U.S. Provisional Patent Application Ser. No. 63/065,087, filed on Aug. 13, 2020, each of which is incorporated by reference herein in its entirety.
| Number | Date | Country | |
|---|---|---|---|
| 63065087 | Aug 2020 | US |
| Number | Date | Country | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Parent | 17398977 | Aug 2021 | US |
| Child | 18911475 | US |
