IP Library Granted Patent US 11,884,395
Granted Patent B2
US 11,884,395 · App. 17/493,223 · Granted Jan 30, 2024

Electrically conductive materials for heating and deicing airfoils

Inventors: Patrick J Kinlen (Fenton, MO); Kenneth W. Young (Bear, DE)
Assignee: THE BOEING COMPANY
B64D15/12B64C27/46H01B1/122H05B3/145H05B3/146H05B2203/037H05B2214/02H05B2214/04
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Quick Facts
Patent No.
US 11,884,395
App. No.
17/493,223
Granted
Jan 30, 2024
Kind
B2
Abstract

Composite airfoils of the present disclosure comprise a root section including a first surface. The airfoils comprise an intermediate section having a first surface and coupled with the root section at a first end. The airfoils comprise a tip section having a first surface and coupled at a first end with a second end of the intermediate section. The airfoils comprise a conductive material layer adjacent at least one of the first surface of the root section, the first surface of the intermediate section, and the first surface of the tip section. The conductive material comprises a first polymer, a second polymer, and a sulfonic acid.

Claims (30)

1. An airfoil, comprising:

a root section;

an intermediate section coupled with the root section;

a tip section coupled with the intermediate section; and

a layer disposed on the root section, the intermediate section, the tip section, or combination(s) thereof, the layer comprising:

a carbon allotrope material, and

an electrically conductive material disposed on the carbon allotrope material, the electrically conductive material comprising a polymer and a sulfonic acid.

2. The airfoil of claim 1 , wherein the carbon allotrope material is a carbon allotrope material sheet.

3. The airfoil of claim 1 , further comprising a wear-resistant material layer adjacent the layer comprising the carbon allotrope material and the electrically conductive material.

4. The airfoil of claim 3 , wherein the wear-resistant material is selected from the group consisting of nickel, titanium, and combination(s) thereof.

5. The airfoil of claim 1 , wherein the carbon allotrope material is selected from the group consisting of a multi-walled carbon nanotube, a single-walled carbon nanotube, a graphene, a polycarbonate, a fullerene, or combination(s) thereof.

6. The airfoil of claim 1 , wherein the sulfonic acid is selected from the group consisting of a naphthyl sulfonic acid, an anthracenyl sulfonic acid, a pyrenyl sulfonic acid, and combination(s) thereof.

7. The airfoil of claim 1 , wherein the polymer is selected from the group consisting of a polyaniline, a poly(ethylenedioxythiophene), a poly(styrenesulfonate), and combination(s) thereof.

8. The airfoil of claim 7 , wherein the layer further comprises a second polymer.

9. The airfoil of claim 8 , wherein the second polymer is selected from the group consisting of a polyurethane, a polyvinyl butyral, a polyacrylate, an epoxy, a glycidyl-Si-Zr-containing solgel, a polyester, a phenoxy resin, a polysulfide, and combination(s) thereof.

10. The airfoil of claim 7 , wherein the second polymer is disposed on the first polymer.

11. The airfoil of claim 1 , wherein the first polymer is a poly(ethylenedioxythiophene) and the layer further comprises a poly(styrenesulfonate).

12. The airfoil of claim 1 , wherein the layer has a thickness of about 0.1 pm to about 10 μm.

13. An airfoil, comprising:

a spar; and

a layer disposed on the spar, the layer comprising:

a carbon allotrope material, and

an electrically conductive material disposed on the carbon allotrope material, the electrically conductive material comprising a polymer and a sulfonic acid.

14. The airfoil of claim 13 , wherein the carbon allotrope material is a carbon allotrope material sheet.

15. The airfoil of claim 13 , further comprising a wear-resistant material layer adjacent the layer comprising the carbon allotrope material and the electrically conductive material.

16. The airfoil of claim 15 , wherein the wear-resistant material is selected from the group consisting of nickel, titanium, and combination(s) thereof.

17. The airfoil of claim 13 , wherein the carbon allotrope material is selected from the group consisting of a multi-walled carbon nanotube, a single-walled carbon nanotube, a graphene, a polycarbonate, a fullerene, or combination(s) thereof.

18. The airfoil of claim 13 , wherein the sulfonic acid is selected from the group consisting of a naphthyl sulfonic acid, an anthracenyl sulfonic acid, a pyrenyl sulfonic acid, and combination(s) thereof.

19. The airfoil of claim 13 , wherein the polymer is selected from the group consisting of a polyaniline, a poly(ethylenedioxythiophene), a poly(styrenesulfonate), and combination(s) thereof.

20. The airfoil of claim 19 , wherein the layer further comprises a second polymer selected from the group consisting of a polyurethane, a polyvinyl butyral, a polyacrylate, an epoxy, a glycidyl-Si-Zr-containing solgel, a polyester, a phenoxy resin, a polysulfide, and combination(s) thereof.

Assignments (1)
ASSIGNMENT OF ASSIGNOR'S INTEREST Recorded Oct 7, 2021
From: KINLEN, PATRICK J.; YOUNG, KENNETH W.
To: THE BOEING COMPANY
Reel/Frame 057727/0838 →
Continuity (3)
Continuation 16572801 · Sep 17, 2019
Continuation 15252056 · Aug 30, 2016
Related Publication 20220024596A1 · Jan 27, 2022