Boston Materials, Inc.

Northeastern University

Anvesh Gurijala

Rasam Soheilian

Randall Erb

Robert Mone

Jabulani R T Barber

Qiaochu Han

Li Zhang

Randall Morgan Erb

Michael Segal

The present invention generally relates to fiber-reinforced composites, including carbon-fiber composites. These materials are useful in load-bearing components for mechanical systems, and other applications. Surprisingly, the carbon fibers can be aligned using an applied magnetic field applied directly to the carbon fibers, rather than to magnetic materials that are used to indirectly align the carbon fibers. For example, the carbon fibers may exhibit an anisotropic diamagnetic response in response to a magnetic field, which can be used to align the fibers. In some cases, the carbon fibers may be relatively pure, and/or have a relatively high modulus, which may result in diamagnetic properties. Other embodiments are generally directed to systems and methods for making or using such composites, kits involving such composites, or the like.

Systems and methods for carbon fiber alignment and fiber-reinforced composites

The present disclosure generally relates to systems and methods for composites, including carbon fiber-metal composites. In some cases, the composites may be formed from one, two, or more layers of metals or other substrates, sandwiching a plurality of aligned fibers. The fibers may be substantially aligned, and may be present at relatively high densities within the composite. The composites may be prepared, in some aspects, by dispersing fibers by neutralizing the electrostatic interactions between the fibers, for example using aqueous liquids containing the fibers that are able to neutralize the electrostatic interactions that typically occur between the fibers. In some cases, the fibers may be aligned using techniques such as shear flow and/or magnetism. Other aspects are generally directed to methods of using such composites, kits including such composites, or the like.

Compositions and methods for carbon fiber-metal and other composites

The present disclosure generally relates to systems and methods for composites, including short-fiber films and other composites. In certain aspects, composites comprising a plurality of aligned fibers are provided. The fibers may be substantially aligned, and may be present at relatively high densities within the composite. For example, the composite may include substantially aligned carbon fibers embedded within a thermoplastic substrate. The composites may be prepared, in some aspects, by dispersing fibers by neutralizing the electrostatic interactions between the fibers, for example using aqueous liquids containing the fibers that are able to neutralize the electrostatic interactions that typically occur between the fibers. The liquids may be applied to a substrate, and the fibers may be aligned using techniques such as shear flow and/or magnetism. Other aspects are generally directed to methods of using such composites, kits including such composites, or the like.

Systems and methods for forming short-fiber films, composites comprising thermosets, and other composites

In an embodiment, a process for making a thermal interface article comprises shaping a flowable composite comprising a flowable matrix composition, a plurality of magnetic, thermally conductive particles having an average length greater than a thickness or diameter, wherein the plurality of magnetic, thermally conductive particles have magnetic or superparamagnetic nanoparticles attached thereto, to provide the flowable composite in a shape comprising a first surface and an opposing second surface, and having a Z-axis perpendicular to the first surface and the opposing second surface; subjecting the flowable composite to a rotating magnetic field and to a vibrational force in an amount and for a time effective to align the average length of the plurality of magnetic, thermally conductive particles along the Z-axis; and solidifying the flowable matrix composition to provide the thermal interface, wherein the thermal interface has a Z-direction thermal conductivity of at least 1.0 W/mK.

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Lancaster, MA, United States of America

Anvesh Gurijala