Patent ID: 9387655
Filing Date: 2016-07-12
CPC Classification: B29C,B29K,B32B,B82Y,C09J,F16B,Y10S,Y10T

Claim Text:
1. A method of joining two or more articles via slender nanomaterials embedded in a joining medium and interlinked together, the method involving: (i) dispersion of nanomaterials comprising at least one of carbon nanotubes and nanofibers within a solvent, with the weight percent of said nanomaterials relative to the solvent ranging from 0.001% to 10%, where surfaces of said nanomaterials are modified in order to facilitate their dispersion and promote their interfacial interactions; (ii) application of a coating of said solvent incorporating dispersed nanomaterials on at least one of the surfaces of at least two sheets of the joining medium using at least one of spraying and casting methods, with said sheets of the joining medium made of at least one of brazing alloys, thermoplastics and thermoset precursors, and heating the applied solvent incorporating nanomaterials in order to evaporate the solvent; (iii) insertion of said sheets of the joining medium between joining surfaces of said articles, with at least one surface coated with nanomaterials interfacing the two sheets; (iv) pressing the joining surfaces with sheets inserted between them against each other, and heating the joining surfaces in order to liquefy the joining medium to wet the joining surfaces of said articles, partially or fully embed the nanomaterials within the liquefied medium, and develop at least one of physical and chemical bonds with the surfaces of joining articles and nanomaterials; and (v) cooling the joining surfaces of said articles in order to form a solid joining medium that is bonded to the joining surfaces of said articles, and is enhanced by interlinked nanomaterials which are partially or fully embedded in and bonded to said joining medium.