Carbon nanotube complex molded body and the method of making the same

Abstract

A complex molded body of carbon nanotubes includes a matrix and carbon nanotubes arranged in a given direction in the matrix. The matrix is at least one organic polymer selected from the group consisting of thermoplastic resin, thermosetting resin, rubber, and thermoplastic elastomer. The complex molded body is produced by a method comprising the step of: providing a composition that includes a matrix and carbon nanotubes; applying a magnetic field to the composition to arrange the carbon nanotubes in a given direction; and hardening the composition to produce a complex molded body. The complex molded body has excellent anisotropy in terms of electrical property, thermal property, and mechanical property.

1 . A complex molded body of carbon nanotubes comprising: 
 a matrix; and    carbon nanotubes arranged in a given direction in the matrix.    
     
     
         2 . A complex molded body of  claim 1 , wherein the matrix is at least one organic polymer selected from the group consisting of thermoplastic resin, thermosetting resin, rubber, and thermoplastic elastomer.  
     
     
         3 . A complex molded body of  claim 1 , wherein the matrix is metal, ceramic, other inorganic material, or a precursor thereof.  
     
     
         4 . A complex molded body of  claim 1 , wherein the carbon nanotubes have a diameter of 1 to 20 nm and a length of 50 nm to 100 μm.  
     
     
         5 . A complex molded body of  claim 1 , wherein the amount of the carbon nanotubes is 0.1 to 20 parts by weight relative to 100 parts by weight matrix.  
     
     
         6 . A complex molded body of  claim 1 , further comprising graphitized carbon fibers.  
     
     
         7 . A complex molded body of  claim 1 , wherein the carbon nanotubes have a ferromagnetic coating on their surface.  
     
     
         8 . A method of making a complex molded body of carbon nanotubes comprising the steps of: 
 providing a composition that includes a matrix and carbon nanotubes;    applying a magnetic field to the composition to arrange the carbon nanotubes in a given direction; and    hardening the composition to produce a complex molded body.    
     
     
         9 . A method of  claim 8 , wherein the matrix is at least one organic polymer selected from the group consisting of thermoplastic resin, thermosetting resin, rubber, and thermoplastic elastomer.  
     
     
         10 . A method of  claim 8 , wherein the matrix is metal, ceramic, other inorganic material, or a precursor thereof.  
     
     
         11 . A method of  claim 8 , wherein the carbon nanotubes have a diameter of 1 to 20 nm and a length of 50 nm to 100 μm.  
     
     
         12 . A method of  claim 8 , wherein the amount of the carbon nanotubes in said composition is 0.1 to 20 parts by weight relative to 100 parts by weight matrix.  
     
     
         13 . A method of  claim 8 , wherein said composition further includes graphitized carbon fibers.  
     
     
         14 . A method of  claim 8 , wherein the carbon nanotubes have a ferromagnetic coating on their surface.  
     
     
         15 . A method of  claim 8 , wherein the magnetic field has a magnetic flux density from 5 to 20 tesla.  
     
     
         16 . A method of  claim 8 , wherein the step of providing a composition includes injecting the composition into a recess of a forming mold.  
     
     
         17 . A method of  claim 10 , wherein the step of hardening the composition includes cooling the composition.  
     
     
         18 . A method of  claim 8 , wherein the step of hardening the composition includes drying and sintering the composition to carbonize or graphitize the matrix.