Carbon Nanotube Aggregate Impact-Resistant Material

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Solution Overview

Problem

Traditional impact-resistant materials, such as those made from metal, high molecular weight polyethylene (UHMWPE) fibers, and aramid fibers, are heavy, rigid, and lack flexibility, making them unsuitable for applications requiring comfort and mobility, as they are poor in heat resistance, ultraviolet resistance, and moisture resistance, and have high density.

Innovation Solution

The development of a nanocarbon impact-resistant material using carbon nanotube assemblies with a macro-ordered and micro-disordered structure, where carbon nanotubes are densely distributed and interwoven to form a two-dimensional surface structure, which can absorb impact energy through fractures and crushes, and is compounded with graphene for enhanced properties.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Strength

If traditional impact-resistant materials (metal, UHMWPE, aramid) are used, then impact resistance is achieved, but weight and rigidity increase, reducing flexibility and comfort

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveimpact resistanceVSAvoidweight
Core Design Contradiction:
StrengthVSWeight of moving object

Solution Approach 1:

The invention changes the structural parameters of carbon nanotubes from individual dispersed structures to aggregated macroscopic structures with continuous surfaces. This parameter change enables the material to achieve high impact resistance while maintaining low weight, as the aggregated structure provides enhanced mechanical properties without increasing material density.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #35Parameter changes

Solution Approach 2:

The invention creates a composite material system by combining carbon nanotube aggregates with traditional impact-resistant materials like UHMWPE or aramid fibers. The carbon nanotube aggregates form a coating layer on the fabric surface, creating a multi-layer composite structure that enhances impact resistance while maintaining the lightweight characteristics of the base material.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #40Composite materials

2Strength

If traditional impact-resistant materials are used, then protection is provided, but the materials are rigid and bulky, affecting flexibility and movement

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveimpact resistanceVSAvoidflexibility
Core Design Contradiction:
StrengthVSEase of operation

Solution Approach 1:

The carbon nanotube aggregates form thin film coatings on the fabric surface rather than bulky rigid layers. These thin films provide protective functions while maintaining the flexibility and drape of the underlying fabric, enabling the material to bend and conform to body movements without restriction.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #30Flexible shells and thin films

Solution Approach 2:

The invention changes the morphological parameters of the protective layer from thick rigid structures to thin flexible films with continuous surfaces. This parameter transformation allows the material to provide adequate protection while maintaining flexibility and comfort for wearable applications.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #35Parameter changes

3Weight of moving object

If high molecular materials are used to reduce weight, then weight decreases, but heat resistance and environmental stability are insufficient

Engineering Contradiction:
ImproveweightVSAvoidheat resistance
Core Design Contradiction:
Weight of moving objectVSReliability

Solution Approach 1:

The invention creates a composite system where carbon nanotube aggregates are combined with high molecular weight materials. The carbon nanotube layer provides superior heat resistance and environmental stability, while the underlying polymer fabric maintains lightweight properties. This composite approach allows both requirements to be satisfied simultaneously.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #40Composite materials

Solution Approach 2:

The invention changes the thermal and environmental resistance parameters by introducing carbon nanotube aggregates with inherently superior stability properties. The carbon nanotubes maintain structural integrity at high temperatures and in harsh environments, complementing the lightweight polymer base material.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #35Parameter changes

4Strength

If nanomaterials are added to adhesives to improve bullet-proof properties, then impact resistance improves, but the structure becomes harder and less comfortable

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvebullet-proof propertyVSAvoidwearing comfort
Core Design Contradiction:
StrengthVSEase of operation

Solution Approach 1:

The invention applies carbon nanotube aggregates locally as a surface coating layer rather than uniformly throughout the entire material structure. This localized application provides enhanced bullet-proof properties at the impact interface while the bulk material retains its original soft and comfortable characteristics for wearing contact.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #3Local quality

Solution Approach 2:

The carbon nanotube aggregates form a flexible thin film coating on the fabric surface that provides protective functions without creating a hard rigid structure. The coating maintains the flexibility and softness of the underlying material, ensuring wearing comfort is not compromised by the protective functionality.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #30Flexible shells and thin films

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

The nanocarbon impact-resistant material is lightweight, flexible, breathable, and provides excellent protection across a wide temperature range, maintaining comfort and mobility while offering superior impact resistance, heat resistance, and environmental adaptability.

Implementation Method 1

absorb impact energy through fractures and crushes

Methodology Applied
Scientific EffectFracture Mechanics: Fracture Mechanics

Data Source

PatentEP3409471B1Use of carbon nanotube aggregate in preparing nanocarbon impact resistant material and method for preparing nanocarbon impact resistant material
Publication Date: 2022.03.02 SUZHOU INST OF NANO TECH & NANO BIONICS CHINESE ACEDEMY OF SCI
  • EP3409471B1 patent drawingFigure 1~2
  • EP3409471B1 patent drawingFigure 3~4
  • EP3409471B1 patent drawingFigure 5a~5b

AI summary

The invention discloses the application of carbon nanotube assemblies to the preparation of a nanocarbon impact-resistant material. The carbon nanotube assembly is a macrostructure provided with at least one continuous surface, a plurality of carbon nanotubes are densely distributed in the continuous surface, and at least partial segments of at least part of the multiple carbon nanotubes continuously extend in the continuous surface. The invention further discloses a preparation method of the nanocarbon impact-resistant material. The nanocarbon impact-resistant material has an excellent protection effect, has the advantages of being light, good in flexibility, wide in tolerable temperature range, capable of being bent freely, good in fitness, breathable, adaptable to heat-moisture balance of human bodies, good in wearing comfort and the like, and can be widely applied to bullet-proof materials, stab-proof materials and explosion-proof materials.