IP Library › Granted Patent US 6,913,075
Granted Patent B1
US 6,913,075 · App. 09/593,587 · Granted Jul 5, 2005

Dendritic fiber material

Assignee: Energy Science Laboratories, Inc.
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Quick Facts
Patent No.
US 6,913,075
App. No.
09/593,587
Granted
Jul 5, 2005
Kind
B1
Abstract

A thermal interface includes nanofibrils. The nanofibrils may be attached to a flat base or membrane, or may be attached to the tip portions of larger diameter fibers. The nanofibrils have a diameter of less than about 1 micron, and may advantageously be formed from single walled and/or multi-walled nanotubes.

Claims (22)

1. A material comprising a first plurality of fibers and a second plurality of fibers, wherein said first plurality of fibers comprise carbon have a first diameter of approximately 3-15 micrometers, wherein said second plurality of fibers comprise multi-walled nanotubes having a second diameter of greater than zero micrometers and less than about 1 micrometer, and wherein at least some of said second plurality of fibers are bonded to portions of at least some of said first plurality of fibers.

2. A material comprising a first plurality of fibers and a second plurality of fibers, wherein said first plurality of fibers comprise carbon fibers having a first diameter of less than about 15 micrometers and more than about 3 micrometers, wherein said second plurality of fibers comprises carbon nanotubes having a second diameter of greater than zero micrometers and less than about 1 micrometer, and wherein at least some of said second plurality of fibers are bonded to portions of at least some of said first plurality of fibers.

3. A thermally conductive gasket comprising:

a plurality of fibers having first and second ends, said fibers being predominantly aligned and have a diameter of more than about 3 microns and less than about 15 microns;

a material located predominantly proximate to said first ends, said material improving heat transfer with said first ends, wherein said material comprises a plurality of nanofibrils having a diameter of greater than zero microns and less than about 1 micron.

4. An interface comprising:

a first surface;

a second surface; and

a plurality of elongate fibers in contact with at least one of said first surface and said second surface, wherein at least some of said fibers have a cross sectional diameter of greater than zero microns and less than approximately 1 micron, and are bonded to a portion of other fibers having a cross sectional diameter of approximately 3-15 microns.

5. The interface of claim 4 , wherein at least some of said fibers comprise multi-walled nanotubes.

6. A method of making an interface comprising attaching whiskers having a diameter of greater than zero microns and less than about 1 micron to tip portions of fibers having a diameter of greater than about 3 microns and less than about 15 microns.

7. The method of claim 6 , wherein the whiskers and the fibers both comprise carbon.

8. A method of transferring heat away from a heat source comprising:

transferring heat from said heat source to a first plurality of fibers having cross sectional diameters of greater than zero microns and less than about 1 micron;

transferring heat from said first plurality of fibers to a second plurality of fibers having cross sectional diameters of more than about 3 microns and less than about 15 microns; and

transferring heat from said second plurality of fibers to a heat sink.

9. A method of enhancing the performance of a thermally conductive gasket made from a plurality of predominantly aligned carbon fibers having diameters of more than approximately 3 microns and less than about 15 microns, said method comprising placing a plurality of nanofibrils having diameters of approximately 1 micron proximate to at least some tips of said predominantly aligned carbon fibers.

10. The method of claim 9 , wherein at least some of said nanofibrils comprise multi-walled nanotubes.

11. An interface comprising:

a first surface;

a second surface; and

a plurality of elongate fibers in contact with at least one of said first surface and said second surface, wherein at least some of said fibers have a cross sectional diameter of greater than zero microns and less than approximately 1 micron, and are bonded to a tip portion of other fibers having a cross sectional diameter of greater than approximately 3 microns and less than about 15 microns.

Assignments (2)
ASSIGNMENT OF ASSIGNOR'S INTEREST Recorded Jun 6, 2017
From: ENERGY SCIENCE LABORATORIES, INC.
To: KULR TECHNOLOGY CORPORATION
Reel/Frame 042615/0765 →
ASSIGNMENT OF ASSIGNOR'S INTEREST Recorded Oct 29, 2001
From: KNOWLES, TIMOTHY R.; SEAMAN, CHRISTOPHER
To: ENERGY SCIENCE LABORATORIES, INC.
Reel/Frame 012279/0756 →
Continuity (1)
Provisional Application 6013944300 · Jun 14, 1999