Patent ID: 6299812
Filing Date: 2001-10-09
Classification: B29C,B29K,B82Y,C08K,D01D,D01F,Y10S

Abstract:
A method for forming a fibrous carbon nanotube/composite structure, comprising the steps of:mixing an effective amount of fibrous carbon nanotubes with a matrix material to form a deformable mixture wherein the fibrous carbon nanotubes are randomly oriented in the matrix material, the deformable mixture containing less than about 96 weight percent of the fibrous carbon nanotubes;heating the deformable mixture to a temperature of from about 50 degrees C. to about 100 degrees C. above the melting point of the matrix material;passing the heated deformable mixture through an orifice to form an extrudate;directing a gas having a temperature of from about 50 degrees C. to about 100 degrees C. above the temperature of the extrudate onto an exterior surface of the extrudate to compress the extrudate and align the fibrous carbon nanotubes in the extrudate along the longitudinal axis of the extrudate.