IP Library › Patent Application 12953424
Patent Application
App. No. 12/953,424

CNT-TAILORED COMPOSITE LAND-BASED STRUCTURES

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Patent No.
US None
App. No.
12/953,424
Abstract

An apparatus having a composite land-based structure with a first carbon nanotube infused material and a second carbon nanotube infused material. The first and second carbon nanotube infused materials each having a range of carbon nanotube loading selected to provide different functionalities.

Claims (36)

1 . An apparatus comprising:

a land-based structure comprising a composite structure that comprises at least:

a first carbon nanotube infused material imparting a first functionality to the structure, the first functionality selected from electrical resistance, damage sensing, tensile strength, compressive strength, shear strength, flexural strength, crack resistance, electromagnetic interference shielding, lightning strike protection, thermal conductivity, transfer of electric signals, and radar absorption; and

a second carbon nanotube infused material imparting a second functionality to the structure, the second functionality selected from electrical resistance, damage sensing, tensile strength, compressive strength, shear strength, flexural strength, crack resistance, electromagnetic interference shielding, lightning strike protection, thermal conductivity, transfer of electric signals, and radar absorption.

2 . The apparatus of claim 1 , wherein the composite structure comprises a third carbon nanotube infused material.

3 . The apparatus of claim 1 , wherein a carbon nanotube loading of the first carbon nanotube infused material is between 0% and 2%.

4 . The apparatus of claim 3 , wherein the first carbon nanotube infused material is located on the structure so as to be prone to damage, and wherein the first functionality is damage sensing.

5 . The apparatus of claim 3 , wherein the first carbon nanotube infused material is located on the structure so as to be prone to tension, and wherein the first functionality is tensile strength.

6 . The apparatus of claim 3 , wherein the first carbon nanotube infused material is located on the structure so as to be prone to compression, and wherein the first functionality is compressive strength.

7 . The apparatus of claim 1 , wherein a carbon nanotube loading of the first carbon nanotube infused material is between 2% and 5%.

8 . The apparatus of claim 7 , wherein the first carbon nanotube infused material is located on the structure so as to be prone to shear, and wherein the first functionality is shear strength.

9 . The apparatus of claim 7 , wherein the first carbon nanotube infused material is located on the structure so as to be prone to cracking, and wherein the first functionality is crack resistance.

10 . The apparatus of claim 1 , wherein a carbon nanotube loading of the first carbon nanotube infused material is between 5% and 40%.

11 . The apparatus of claim 10 , wherein the first carbon nanotube infused material is located on the structure so as to be prone to exposure to electromagnetic interference, and wherein the first functionality is electromagnetic interference shielding.

12 . The apparatus of claim 10 , wherein the first carbon nanotube infused material is located on the structure so as to be prone to exposure to lightning strikes, and wherein the first functionality is lightning strike protection.

13 . The apparatus of claim 10 , wherein the first carbon nanotube infused material is located on the structure so as to provide thermal conductivity, and wherein the first functionality is thermal conductivity.

14 . The apparatus of claim 10 , wherein the first carbon nanotube infused material is located on the structure proximate electric circuitry, and wherein the first functionality is transfer of electric signals.

15 . The apparatus of claim 1 , wherein a carbon nanotube loading of the first carbon nanotube infused material is a gradient.

16 . The apparatus of claim 15 , wherein the first carbon nanotube infused material is located on the structure so as to provide radar absorption, and wherein the first functionality is absorption of radar waves.

17 . A method comprising:

providing a land-based structure comprising a composite structure that comprises at least:

a first carbon nanotube infused material imparting a first functionality to the structure, the first functionality selected from electrical resistance, damage sensing, tensile strength, compressive strength, shear strength, flexural strength, crack resistance, electromagnetic interference shielding, lightning strike protection, thermal conductivity, transfer of electric signals, and radar absorption; and

a second carbon nanotube infused material imparting a second functionality to the structure, the second functionality selected from electrical resistance, damage sensing, tensile strength, compressive strength, shear strength, flexural strength, crack resistance, electromagnetic interference shielding, lightning strike protection, thermal conductivity, transfer of electric signals, and radar absorption.

18 . The method of claim 17 , wherein the first carbon nanotube infused material and the second carbon nanotube infused material overlap.

19 . The method of claim 17 , further comprising:

determining the first functionality; and

selecting a first carbon nanotube loading of the first carbon nanotube infused material based on the first functionality.

20 . The method of claim 19 , further comprising:

determining the second functionality; and

selecting a second carbon nanotube loading of the second carbon nanotube infused material based on the second functionality.

21 . The apparatus of claim 1 , wherein the land-based structure comprises a wind turbine blade.

22 . The apparatus of claim 21 , wherein the wind turbine blade comprises:

an outer shell comprising the first carbon nanotube infused material comprising a low range of carbon nanotube loading, wherein the first functionality comprises tensile strength and stiffness;

a skin comprising the second carbon nanotube infused material comprising a low to mid-range of carbon nanotube loading, wherein the second functionality comprises damage sensing;

one or more junctions between shear webs and the outer shell comprising a third carbon nanotube infused material comprising a mid-range of carbon nanotube loading, imparting a third functionality to the structure, wherein the third functionality comprises shear strength; and

a coating comprising a fourth carbon nanotube infused material comprising a high range of carbon nanotube loading, imparting a fourth functionality to the structure, wherein the fourth functionality comprises lightning strike protection.

Assignments (1)
ASSIGNMENT OF ASSIGNOR'S INTEREST Recorded Jan 7, 2011
From: SHAH, TUSHAR K.; ALBERDING, MARK R.; MALECKI, HARRY C.; MARKKULA, SAMUEL J.; HUGHES, JOHN ANTHONY; KLINE, SHAWN C.
To: APPLIED NANOSTRUCTURED SOLUTIONS, LLC
Reel/Frame 025602/0966 →