Thermogravimetric Analysis for Carbon Nanostructure Disentanglement

Solution Overview

Problem

Conventional methods fail to accurately evaluate the disentanglement state of fibrous carbon nanostructures in composite materials, leading to complications in adjusting disentanglement treatment conditions and potentially damaging the nanostructures during excessive treatment.

Innovation Solution

A method involving thermogravimetric analysis of a polymer-removed product to quantify the disentanglement state of fibrous carbon nanostructures, where the combustion time of the nanostructures correlates with their degree of disentanglement.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Stability of the object's composition

If disentanglement treatment is performed using dispersers to improve fibrous carbon nanostructure dispersion, then the dispersion quality improves, but it becomes difficult to accurately evaluate the disentanglement state and adjust treatment conditions

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvedispersion qualityVSAvoidevaluation accuracy

Core Design Contradiction:

Stability of the object's compositionVSMeasurement precision

Solution Approach 1:

The patent extracts the fibrous carbon nanostructures from the polymer matrix by removing the polymer component, allowing independent evaluation of the nanostructure disentanglement state. This is achieved by heating the composite material to decompose and remove the polymer, leaving only the carbon nanostructures for analysis.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #2Taking out (Extraction)

Solution Approach 2:

The patent replaces complex microscopic observation methods with a simplified thermal analysis method. Instead of using electron microscopes or other complex imaging systems to evaluate disentanglement, the invention uses thermogravimetric analysis to measure combustion characteristics, which directly correlate with the disentanglement state.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #28Mechanics substitution (Replace mechanical system)

2Stability of the object's composition

If excessive disentanglement treatment is applied to break up bundles, then dispersion may improve, but the fibrous carbon nanostructures may be damaged

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvedispersion qualityVSAvoidnanostructure integrity

Core Design Contradiction:

Stability of the object's compositionVSReliability

Solution Approach 1:

The patent establishes a feedback mechanism where the combustion characteristics measured by thermogravimetric analysis provide information about the disentanglement state. This feedback allows operators to adjust disentanglement treatment conditions to achieve optimal dispersion without excessive treatment that would damage the nanostructures.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #23Feedback

Solution Approach 2:

The patent changes the evaluation parameter from direct physical observation to thermal combustion characteristics. By measuring how the fibrous carbon nanostructures combust at different temperatures and rates, the invention provides a quantitative measure of disentanglement that correlates with both dispersion quality and structural integrity.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #35Parameter changes

3Measurement precision

If conventional physical property measurement is used to evaluate disentanglement, then evaluation can be performed, but accurate determination of disentanglement state and treatment adjustment becomes complicated

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveevaluation capabilityVSAvoidprocess complexity

Core Design Contradiction:

Measurement precisionVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The patent replaces complex microscopic observation methods with a simplified thermal analysis method. Instead of using electron microscopes or other complex imaging systems to evaluate disentanglement, the invention uses thermogravimetric analysis to measure combustion characteristics, which directly correlate with the disentanglement state.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #28Mechanics substitution (Replace mechanical system)

Solution Approach 2:

The patent changes the evaluation parameter from direct physical observation to thermal combustion characteristics. By measuring how the fibrous carbon nanostructures combust at different temperatures and rates, the invention provides a quantitative measure of disentanglement that correlates with both dispersion quality and structural integrity.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #35Parameter changes

Applied Scientific Principles

This section explains which scientific principles are used to turn an abstract innovation direction into a practical engineering solution.

Function Achieved in This Case

This method allows for a simple and quantitative evaluation of the disentanglement state, enabling efficient production of composite materials with well-dispersed fibrous carbon nanostructures and improved physical properties.

Implementation Method 1

heating the composite material in an inert gas atmosphere to remove a polymer component from the composite material

Methodology Applied

Scientific EffectThermal decomposition: Pyrolysis

Implementation Method 2

performing thermogravimetric analysis of the polymer-removed product in an oxygen-containing atmosphere to measure change over time of mass of the polymer-removed product

Methodology Applied

Scientific EffectCombustion: Combustion

Data Source

PatentUS12331179B2Methods of evaluating and producing composite material, and composite material

Publication Date: 2025.06.17 ZEON CORP

AI summary

Provided is a technique for quantitatively evaluating a disentanglement state of fibrous carbon nanostructures in a composite material by a simple method. A method of evaluating a composite material containing a polymer and fibrous carbon nanostructures includes: a step (A) of heating the composite material in an inert gas atmosphere to remove a polymer component from the composite material and obtain a polymer-removed product; a step (B) of performing thermogravimetric analysis of the polymer-removed product in an oxygen-containing atmosphere to measure change over time of mass of the polymer-removed product; and a step (C) of evaluating a disentanglement state of the fibrous carbon nanostructures in the composite material from a relationship between mass change of the polymer-removed product and elapsed time obtained in the step (B).