The patent badge is an abbreviated version of the USPTO patent document. The patent badge does contain a link to the full patent document.
The patent badge is an abbreviated version of the USPTO patent document. The patent badge covers the following: Patent number, Date patent was issued, Date patent was filed, Title of the patent, Applicant, Inventor, Assignee, Attorney firm, Primary examiner, Assistant examiner, CPCs, and Abstract. The patent badge does contain a link to the full patent document (in Adobe Acrobat format, aka pdf). To download or print any patent click here.
Patent No.:
Date of Patent:
Jul. 18, 1995
Filed:
Jul. 09, 1993
Cameron J Dasch, Bloomfield Hills, MI (US);
Robert L Alig, Dayton, OH (US);
General Motors Corporation, Detroit, MI (US);
Abstract
A method is provided for forming a composite material and article using nanometer-size vapor grown carbon fibers. The preferred carbon fibers are characterized by diameters of substantially less than about one micrometer, and more typically less than about 0.2 micrometers, and are of the type formed by a continuous gas phase reaction. The polymeric matrix of the composite material is formed from a thermoplastic resin having a surface tension which is sufficiently low, so as to promote wetting of the surfaces of the nanometer-size carbon fibers. The thermoplastic resin is mixed with the carbon fibers and a solvent so as to granularize the mixture and thereby facilitate subsequent handling and mixing of the carbon fibers. Final mixing occurs at temperatures near the melting point of the thermoplastic resin and for a duration which is sufficient to ensure that the carbon fibers are adequately wetted by the thermoplastic resin, so as to provide adhesion between the fibers and the thermoplastic. The composite material is characterized by improved strength and stiffness.