IP Library Granted Patent US 8,226,863
Granted Patent B2
US 8,226,863 · App. 12/639,836 · Granted Jul 24, 2012

Method for producing three-dimensional product having nanoporous surface

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Quick Facts
Patent No.
US 8,226,863
App. No.
12/639,836
Granted
Jul 24, 2012
Kind
B2
Abstract

The present invention provides a method for producing a three-dimensional product having a nanoporous surface in which the pore density, pore size or pore size distribution can be easily and readily controlled. The invention combines two techniques: a method for producing a three-dimensional product in which a yarn is knitted or woven to finish into an arbitrary three-dimensional shape, and a method for transforming a surface consisting of a material in which nanoparticles are dispersed in a matrix to a nanoporous surface by immersing the surface in a liquid which dissolves the nanoparticles but does not dissolve the matrix.

Claims (50)

1. A method for producing a three-dimensional product having a nanoporous surface, the method comprising:

preparing a yarn having a surface consisting of a material in which a plurality of nanoparticles is dispersed in a matrix;

knitting or weaving the yarn to form a knitted fabric or a woven fabric; and

immersing the knitted fabric or the woven fabric in a liquid which dissolves the nanoparticles but does not dissolve the matrix.

2. The method for producing a three-dimensional product having a nanoporous surface according to claim 1 , wherein the nanoparticles are metal particles.

3. The method for producing a three-dimensional product having a nanoporous surface according to claim 1 , wherein the matrix comprises a polymer material.

4. The method for producing a three-dimensional product having a nanoporous surface according to claim 1 , wherein the liquid which dissolves the nanoparticles but does not dissolve the matrix is an alkali solution or an acid solution.

5. The method for producing a three-dimensional product having a nanoporous surface according to claim 1 , wherein the preparing of a yarn having a surface consisting of the material in which a plurality of nanoparticles is dispersed in a matrix comprises:

preparing a core yarn;

preparing a nanoparticle dispersion solution comprising a material that will constitute the matrix; and

applying the nanoparticle dispersion solution on the core yarn.

6. The method for producing a three-dimensional product having a nanoporous surface according to claim 1 , wherein the preparing of a yarn having a surface consisting of the material in which a plurality of nanoparticles is dispersed in a matrix comprises:

preparing a solid mixture by mixing particles consisting of a material that will constitute the matrix with particles consisting of a material that will constitute the nanoparticles; and

spinning the solid mixture.

7. A method for producing a three-dimensional product having a nanoporous surface, the method comprising:

preparing a yarn having the nanoporous surface; and

knitting or weaving the yarn having the nanoporous surface,

wherein the preparing of the yarn having the nanoporous surface comprises:

preparing a yarn having a surface consisting of a material in which a plurality of nanoparticles is dispersed in a matrix; and

immersing the yarn in a liquid which dissolves the nanoparticles but does not dissolve the matrix so as to provide the yarn having the nanoporous surface.

8. The method for producing a three-dimensional product having a nanoporous surface according to claim 7 , wherein the nanoparticles are metal particles.

9. The method for producing a three-dimensional product having a nanoporous surface according to claim 7 , wherein the nanoparticles are Ag particles.

10. The method for producing a three-dimensional product having a nanoporous surface according to claim 7 , wherein the matrix comprises a polymer material.

11. The method for producing a three-dimensional product having a nanoporous surface according to claim 7 , wherein the liquid which dissolves the nanoparticles but does not dissolve the matrix is an alkali solution or an acid solution.

12. The method for producing a three-dimensional product having a nanoporous surface according to claim 7 , wherein the preparing of the yarn having the surface consisting of the material in which the plurality of nanoparticles is dispersed in the matrix comprises:

preparing a core yarn;

preparing a nanoparticle dispersion solution comprising a material that will constitute the matrix; and

applying the nanoparticle dispersion solution on the core yarn to form a coated layer.

13. The method for producing a three-dimensional product having a nanoporous surface according to claim 7 , wherein the preparing of the yarn having the surface consisting of the material in which the plurality of nanoparticles is dispersed in the matrix comprises:

preparing a solid mixture by mixing particles consisting of a material that will constitute the matrix with particles consisting of a material that will constitute the nanoparticles; and

spinning the solid mixture.

14. The method for producing a three-dimensional product having a nanoporous surface according to claim 13 , wherein the mixing is carried out by using a ball mill.

15. The method for producing a three-dimensional product having a nanoporous surface according to claim 7 , further comprising:

controlling a pore size or pore size distribution of the nanoporous surface by adjusting an amount, particle size, or particle size distribution of the nanoparticles dispersed in the matrix.

16. The method for producing a three-dimensional product having a nanoporous surface according to claim 7 , further comprising:

removing a core yarn from the yarn to form a hollow yarn.

17. The method for producing a three-dimensional product having a nanoporous surface according to claim 7 , further comprising:

modifying surfaces of the nanoparticles before dispersing the nanoparticles in the matrix.

18. A method for producing a three-dimensional product having a nanoporous surface, the method comprising:

preparing a nanoparticle dispersion solution;

applying the nanoparticle dispersion solution on the core yarn to form a coated layer comprising nanoparticles dispersed in a matrix;

heating the coated layer so as to sinter or melt the coated layer into a continuous phase;

immersing the yarn in a liquid which dissolves the nanoparticles but does not dissolve the matrix to form a yarn having a nanoporous surface; and

knitting or weaving the yarn having the nanoporous surface.

19. A method for producing a three-dimensional product having a nanoporous surface, the method comprising:

preparing a solid mixture by mixing particles consisting of a material that will constitute a matrix with particles consisting of a material that will constitute nanoparticles;

melting the solid mixture or dissolving the solid mixture in a solvent to form a dispersion solution;

applying the dispersion solution to a core yarn to form a yarn having a surface consisting of a material in which the nanoparticles are dispersed in the matrix;

immersing the yarn in a liquid which dissolves the nanoparticles but does not dissolve the matrix to form a yarn having a nanoporous surface; and

knitting or weaving the yarn having the nanoporous surface.

Assignments (2)
SECURITY INTEREST Recorded Jan 29, 2019
From: EMPIRE TECHNOLOGY DEVELOPMENT LLC
To: CRESTLINE DIRECT FINANCE, L.P.
Reel/Frame 048373/0217 →
ASSIGNMENT OF ASSIGNOR'S INTEREST Recorded Jul 21, 2010
From: KUSUURA, TAKAHISA
To: EMPIRE TECHNOLOGY DEVELOPMENT LLC
Reel/Frame 024720/0990 →