METHODS OF FUNCTIONALIZING CARBON NANOTUBES AND COMPOSITIONS COMPRISING FUNCTIONALIZED CARBON NANOTUBES
Methods of treating carbon nanotubes include disposing a plurality of carbon nanotubes in a chamber; reducing a pressure of an atmosphere within the chamber; increasing a temperature within the chamber; and removing gases from interstices within at least some of the plurality of carbon nanotubes. A composition of matter includes a plurality of carbon nanotubes defining interstices therein; an inert gas disposed within at least some of the interstices in the carbon nanotubes; and a matrix material mixed with the plurality of carbon nanotubes.
1 . A method of treating carbon nanotubes, the method comprising:
disposing a plurality of carbon nanotubes in a chamber;
reducing a pressure of an atmosphere within the chamber;
increasing a temperature within the chamber; and
removing gases from interstices within at least some of the plurality of carbon nanotubes.
2 . The method of claim 1 , wherein reducing a pressure of an atmosphere within the chamber comprises reducing the pressure to 0.4 bar or lower.
3 . (canceled)
4 . The method of claim 1 , further comprising providing an inert gas to the chamber.
5 . (canceled)
6 . The method of claim 4 , further comprising displacing at least a portion of oxygen occupying the interstices with the inert gas.
7 . The method of claim 6 , further comprising retaining the inert gas within at least some of the plurality of carbon nanotubes after exposing the carbon nanotubes to an ambient atmosphere.
8 . The method of claim 1 , wherein the plurality of carbon nanotubes comprises single-wall carbon nanotubes.
9 . The method of claim 1 , wherein the plurality of carbon nanotubes comprises multi-wall carbon nanotubes.
10 . The method of claim 1 , wherein the plurality of carbon nanotubes comprises carbon nanotubes having a bimodal distribution of diameters.
11 . The method of claim 1 , further comprising mixing the plurality of carbon nanotubes with a matrix material.
12 . The method of claim 11 , wherein mixing the plurality of carbon nanotubes with a matrix material comprises mixing the plurality of carbon nanotubes and the matrix material in a rotary mixer.
13 . The method of claim 11 , wherein mixing the plurality of carbon nanotubes with a matrix material comprises mixing between about 2% by weight and about 6% by weight of the plurality of carbon nanotubes with the matrix material.
14 . The method of claim 11 , wherein the matrix material comprises a material selected from the group consisting of a metal, a polymer, a ceramic, and a ceramic precursor.
15 . The method of claim 14 , wherein the matrix material comprises aluminum.
16 . The method of claim 11 , wherein the matrix material comprises a powder.
17 . The method of claim 1 , wherein disposing a plurality of carbon nanotubes in a chamber comprises disposing a slurry comprising the plurality of carbon nanotubes in the chamber.
18 . A composition of matter, comprising:
a plurality of carbon nanotubes defining interstices therein;
an inert gas disposed within at least some of the interstices in the carbon nanotubes; and
a matrix material mixed with the plurality of carbon nanotubes.
19 . The composition of claim 18 , wherein the interstices are substantially free of oxygen.
20 . (canceled)
21 . The composition of claim 18 , wherein the inert gas disposed within at least some of the interstices in the carbon nanotubes comprises a substantially pure inert gas.
22 . The composition of claim 18 , wherein the matrix material comprises a material selected from the group consisting of a metal, a polymer, a ceramic, and a ceramic precursor.
23 . The composition of claim 22 , wherein the matrix material comprises aluminum.