Patent ID: 9683310
Date: 2017-06-20
CPC Classifications: B29C,B29L,C01B,D01D,D01F,Y10T

Claim:
1. A continuous-filament hollow finished carbon fiber consisting of: an inner-volume portion with a first-core portion having a plurality of carbon nanotubes and a first polymer selected from the group consisting of polyacrylonitrile (PAN), pitch, polyphenylene sulfide (PPS), viscose, cellulose, polyvinylidene chloride (PVDC), and polyvinyl alcohol (PVA), the carbon nanotubes substantially aligned along a longitudinal axis of the continuous-filament hollow finished carbon fiber and polymer chains of the first polymer oriented in a direction parallel to the longitudinal axis of the continuous-filament hollow finished carbon fiber; and, one or more hollow second-core portions, the first-core portion being in contact with and encompassing the one or more hollow second-core portions; and, an outer-volume portion having a second polymer selected from the group consisting of polyacrylonitrile (PAN), pitch, polyphenylene sulfide (PPS), viscose, cellulose, polyvinylidene chloride (PVDC), and polyvinyl alcohol (PVA), the outer-volume portion being in contact with and completely encompassing the inner-volume portion, wherein the inner-volume portion of the continuous-filament hollow finished carbon fiber has a greater tensile modulus and/or tensile strength than the outer-volume portion of the continuous-filament hollow finished carbon fiber, and further wherein the first polymer of the continuous-filament hollow finished carbon fiber and the second polymer of the continuous-filament hollow finished carbon fiber are the same.