Coated Carbon Nanotube Wire for Visible Insulation Layers

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Solution Overview

Problem

Carbon nanotube wires are difficult to visually confirm if they are coated with an insulating material due to their black color, leading to insufficient visibility of the coating layer, which affects operability and insulation reliability.

Innovation Solution

A coated carbon nanotube electric wire with an insulating coating layer made of a material with a refractive index of 1.45 or greater, having a sectional area proportion of 0.05 to 1.50 in the radial direction, and a thickness deviation rate of 30% to 95%, enhancing visibility and insulation reliability.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Reliability

If a carbon nanotube wire is coated with an insulating material, then insulation reliability is improved, but visibility of the coating layer deteriorates

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveinsulation reliabilityVSAvoidvisibility of coating layer
Core Design Contradiction:
ReliabilityVSDifficulty of detecting and measuring

Solution Approach 1:

The patent applies a visibility enhancement layer containing pigment particles on the insulating coating layer. The pigment particles scatter light to make the otherwise invisible coating visible to the naked eye, resolving the contradiction between maintaining insulation reliability and improving visibility of the coating layer.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #32Color changes

Solution Approach 2:

The visibility enhancement layer acts as an intermediary between the insulating coating layer and the external environment. It contains pigment particles that scatter light without compromising the insulation properties of the underlying coating, allowing visibility improvement while maintaining insulation reliability.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #24Intermediary (Mediator)

2Difficulty of detecting and measuring

If the sectional area of the insulating coating layer is increased, then visibility is improved, but heat dissipation characteristics deteriorate

Engineering Contradiction:
ImprovevisibilityVSAvoidheat dissipation characteristics
Core Design Contradiction:
Difficulty of detecting and measuringVSTemperature

Solution Approach 1:

The patent applies the visibility enhancement layer only on the outer surface of the insulating coating layer, rather than increasing the thickness of the insulating coating itself. This localized approach provides visibility enhancement without significantly increasing the overall cross-sectional area that would impede heat dissipation from the carbon nanotube core.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #3Local quality

Solution Approach 2:

Instead of increasing visibility by increasing the radial thickness of the insulating coating (which would affect heat dissipation), the patent adds a thin visibility enhancement layer on the outer surface. This shifts the visibility improvement to a different dimensional approach that minimizes impact on thermal performance.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #17Another dimension (Dimensionality change)

3Difficulty of detecting and measuring

If a visibility enhancement layer with pigment particles is applied, then visibility of the coating layer is improved, but device complexity increases

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvevisibility of coating layerVSAvoidstructure complexity
Core Design Contradiction:
Difficulty of detecting and measuringVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The visibility enhancement layer is applied as a thin film coating on the insulating coating layer. This thin film approach provides visibility enhancement without adding significant structural complexity or material volume, maintaining simplicity while achieving the visibility improvement function.

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 solution provides satisfactory visibility of the insulating coating layer and improves insulation reliability while maintaining excellent heat dissipation characteristics and weight reduction.

Implementation Method 1

an insulating coating layer with which the carbon nanotube wire is coated, wherein the insulating coating layer is formed of a material with a refractive index nD of 1.45 or more

Methodology Applied
Scientific EffectRefraction: Refraction

Data Source

PatentEP3703081B1Coated carbon nanotube electric wire
Publication Date: 2024.03.06 FURUKAWA ELECTRIC CO LTD
  • EP3703081B1 patent drawingFigure 1
  • EP3703081B1 patent drawingFigure 2
  • EP3703081B1 patent drawingFigure 3a~3b

AI summary

The present invention relates to a coated carbon nanotube electric wire (1) with an insulating coating layer with satisfactory visibility. The coated carbon nanotube electric wire (1) includes: a carbon nanotube wire (10) including one or more carbon nanotube aggregates (11) configured of a plurality of carbon nanotubes (11a); and an insulating coating layer (21) with which the carbon nanotube wire (10) is coated, and the insulating coating layer (21) is configured of a material with a refractive index nD of equal to or greater than 1.45.