Use of microwaves to crosslink carbon nanotubes to facilitate modification

Abstract

The present invention is directed toward methods of crosslinking carbon nanotubes to each other using microwave radiation, articles of manufacture produced by such methods, compositions produced by such methods, and applications for such compositions and articles of manufacture. The present invention is also directed toward methods of radiatively modifying composites and/or blends comprising carbon nanotubes with microwaves, and to the compositions produced by such methods. In some embodiments, the modification comprises a crosslinking process, wherein the carbon nanotubes serve as a conduit for thermally and photolytically crosslinking the host matrix with microwave radiation.

What is claimed is:  
     
         1 . A method comprising the steps of: 
 a) incorporating carbon nanotubes into a host material to form a mixture; and    b) irradiating the mixture with microwaves.    
     
     
         2 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the step of irradiating the mixture with microwaves leads to a modification of the mixture.  
     
     
         3 . The method of  claim 2 , wherein the carbon nanotubes serve as a conduit for the modification.  
     
     
         4 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the carbon nanotubes comprise a weight percent that ranges from about 0.01% to about 90% of the total weight of the mixture.  
     
     
         5 . The method of  claim 4 , wherein the carbon nanotube weight percent ranges from about 0.1% to about 10% of the total weight of the mixture.  
     
     
         6 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the step of irradiating the mixture with microwaves comprises microwaves which range in frequency from about 0.01 GHz to about 100 GHz.  
     
     
         7 . The method of  claim 6 , wherein the frequency ranges from about 1 GHz to about 18 GHz.  
     
     
         8 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the step of irradiating the mixture with microwaves utilizes a magnetron with a power output that ranges from about 1 W to about 10,000 W  
     
     
         9 . The method of  claim 8 , wherein the power ranges from about 5 W to about 1,000 W.  
     
     
         10 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the step of irradiating the mixture with microwaves comprises an inert environment selected from the group consisting of ultra-high vacuum, high vacuum, partial vacuum, inert gases, and combinations thereof.  
     
     
         11 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the host material is a polymeric host material, a carbon-carbon composite, and combinations thereof.  
     
     
         12 . The method of  claim 11 , wherein the mixture is modified by a crosslinking of the host material.  
     
     
         13 . The method of  claim 11 , further comprising crosslinking between the carbon nanotubes and the host material.  
     
     
         14 . The method of  claim 12 , wherein the crosslinking is thermally-induced by the interaction of microwaves with the carbon nanotubes in the mixture.  
     
     
         15 . The method of  claim 12 , wherein the crosslinking is photolytically-induced by the interaction of microwaves with the carbon nanotubes in the mixture.  
     
     
         16 . The method of  claim 14 , further comprising the step of adding an additive that generates radicals or an acid upon exposure to heat generated from the carbon nanotubes.  
     
     
         17 . The method of  claim 15 , further comprising the step of adding an additive that generates radicals or an acid upon exposure to light generated from the carbon nanotubes.  
     
     
         18 . The method of  claim 11 , wherein the mixture is modified by a curing of the host material.  
     
     
         19 . The method of  claim 18 , wherein the curing is thermally-induced by the interaction of microwaves with the carbon nanotubes in the mixture.  
     
     
         20 . The method of  claim 18 , wherein the curing is photolytically-induced by the interaction of microwaves with the carbon nanotubes in the mixture.  
     
     
         21 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the host material is selected from the group consisting of ceramics, glasses, and combinations thereof.  
     
     
         22 . The method of  claim 21 , wherein the mixture is thermally sintered via the microwave interaction with the carbon nanotubes in the mixture.  
     
     
         23 . A method comprising the steps of: 
 a) providing a pre-laminate assembly comprising at least two pieces of materials in contact with one another and wherein carbon nanotubes are present at the interface of the pieces; and    b) irradiating the pre-laminate assembly with microwave radiation such that the carbon nanotubes at the interface emit heat that induces bonding between the at least two pieces of polymeric material.    
     
     
         24 . The method of  claim 23 , wherein the materials are polymeric materials.  
     
     
         25 . The method of  claim 24 , wherein the bonding between the at least two pieces of polymeric materials comprises thermally-induced crosslinking.  
     
     
         26 . The method of  claim 23 , wherein the materials are metallic materials.  
     
     
         27 . The method of  claim 23 , wherein the materials comprise carbon-carbon composites.  
     
     
         28 . The method of  claim 23 , further comprising glue at the interface of the pieces and wherein bonding between the at least two pieces of polymeric material is effected by a heat-induced curing of the glue.