Patent ID: 7935415
Filing Date: 2011-05-03
Classification: B29C,D04H,G01K,Y10S,Y10T

Abstract:
1. A composite material comprising: a matrix of a nonmetallic material; a plurality of liberated metallic branching nanostrands formed by minimal shear mixing having an average diameter less than about four microns and an average aspect ratio greater than about ten-to-one, distributed substantially throughout the matrix; a plurality of fibers distributed substantially throughout the matrix, wherein the fibers have an average diameter greater than about four microns; and wherein the liberated metallic branching nanostrands formed by minimal shear mixing and the fibers have a total volumetric concentration within the matrix such that there is an electrical conductivity of the composite material that is at least ten times an electrical conductivity of the nonmetallic material alone.