Process for nano graphene platelet-reinforced composite material
A process for producing a nanographene platelet-reinforced composite material having nanographene platelets or sheets (NGPs) as a first reinforcement phase dispersed in a matrix material and the first reinforcement phase occupies a weight fraction of 1-90% based on the total composite weight. Preferably, these NGPs, alone or in combination with a second reinforcement phase, are bonded by an adhesive and constitute a continuous 3-D network of electron- and phonon-conducting paths.
1. A process for producing a nanographene platelet-reinforced composite material comprising
a. providing a plurality of nanographene platelets;
b. bonding said nanographene platelets with an adhesive material to form a porous preform having a three-dimensional network of continuous electron- and phonon-conducting paths;
c. impregnating said porous preform with a matrix material to form an impregnated preform; and
d. solidifying said impregnated preform to produce said nanographene platelet-reinforced composite material.
2. The process of claim 1 , further comprising a step of compression, before or after said step of impregnating said porous preform.
3. The process of claim 1 , further comprising a step of heat treatment at a temperature from 500° C. to 2,500° C.
4. The process of claim 1 , further comprising a step of coating said nanographene platelet-reinforced composite material with a high-emissivity material.
5. The process of claim 4 , wherein said high-emissivity material is selected from the group consisting of aluminum oxide, zinc oxide, aluminum nitride, titanium oxide, boron nitride, silicon carbide, silicon nitride, gallium nitride, and combinations thereof.
6. The process of claim 1 , further comprising a step of assembling multiple pieces of nanographene platelet-reinforced composite material into a finned unit.
7. The process of claim 1 , wherein said nanographene platelets comprise 15 to 90 weight % based on the total composite weight.
8. The process of claim 1 , wherein said nanographene platelets have a thickness less than 10 nm.
9. The process of claim 1 , wherein said nanographene platelet-reinforced composite material has a thickness from 0.1 mm to 2 mm.
10. The process of claim 1 , wherein said adhesive material is different from said matrix material.
11. The process of claim 1 , wherein said adhesive material is selected from the group consisting of thermoplastic polymers, UV-curable adhesives, and radiation-curable adhesives.
12. The process of claim 1 , wherein said matrix material is selected from the group consisting of phenolic resin, petroleum pitch, mesophase pitch, polymeric carbon, thermoplastic polymers, thermoset resins, elastomeric polymers, interpenetrating network polymers, metals, glass materials, ceramic materials, and combinations thereof.
13. The process of claim 1 , further comprising a second discrete reinforcement phase.
14. The process of claim 13 , wherein said second reinforcement phase is selected from the group consisting of carbon fibers, graphite fibers, graphite nanofibers, carbon nanotube, carbon nanorod, mesophase carbon particle, mesocarbon microbead, expanded graphite flake, exfoliated graphite or graphite worm, coke particle, needle coke, carbon black, acetylene black particle, activated carbon particle, and combinations thereof.
15. A process for producing a nanographene platelet-reinforced composite material comprising
a. providing a plurality of nanographene platelets;
b. bonding said nanographene platelets with an adhesive material to form a shapable porous preform having a three-dimensional network of continuous electron- and phonon-conducting paths;
c. impregnating said porous preform with a matrix material to form an shapable impregnated preform;
d. shaping said shapable impregnated preform; and
e. solidifying said shaped impregnated preform to produce said nanographene platelet-reinforced composite material.
16. The process of claim 15 , wherein said adhesive material is not the same as said matrix material.
17. The process of claim 15 , further comprising a second discrete reinforcement phase selected from a particle, filament, nanotube, nanowire, or nanorod of a metal, ceramic material, glass material, polymer, carbon, graphite, or a combination thereof.
18. The process of claim 15 , wherein said nanographene platelets comprise 15-90 weight % based on the total composite weight.