Patent ID: 6074585
Filing Date: 2000-06-13
Classification: C04B,F16J,H01M,Y02E,Y02P,Y10T

Abstract:
Method for making a flexible graphite sheet having opposite planar outer surfaces which is permeable to liquid resin solution which comprises:(i) treating natural graphite flake with an intercalating solution to obtain heat expandable, intercalated graphite flake particles;(ii) mixing from about 1.5 to 30% by weight of needle-shaped ceramic fiber particles with said intercalated graphite flake particles to provide a blended mixture, said needle-shaped ceramic fiber particles being non-reactive with flexible graphite and stable at temperatures up to 2500.degree. F.;(iii) passing said blended mixture of intercalated natural graphite flake particles and needle-shaped ceramic fiber particles through a flame to cause rapid exfoliation of said intercalated natural graphite particles and provide a mixture of said needle-shaped ceramic fiber particles with exfoliated graphite particles; and(iv) passing said mixture of needle-shaped particles and exfoliated graphite particles between pressure rolls to form a compressed sheet of flexible graphite having embedded therein a dispersion of a plurality of needle-shaped particles which extend from at least one of said planar outer surfaces into the sheet.