Patent ID: 6756026
Filing Date: 2004-06-29
Classification: B82Y,C01B,G01Q,G11B,G11C,H01J,Y10S,Y10T

Abstract:
A method for growing continuous carbon fiber comprising:a) providing an array of single-wall carbon nanotubes in generally parallel orientation; b) contacting the ends of the single-wall carbon nanotubes with at least one catalytic metal; c) activating the catalytic metal; d) contacting a gaseous source of carbon to the array and the catalytic metal; e) heating at least one of the array, the catalytic metal, and the gaseous source of the carbon; f) growing the single-wall carbon nanotubes at the ends of the single-wall carbon nanotubes to form a continuous carbon fiber, wherein the fiber comprises the single-wall carbon nanotubes in generally parallel orientation; and g) recovering the continuous carbon fiber.