The present disclosure relates to a metal nanoparticles impregnated activated carbon fiber for removing harmful substances, and a method of manufacturing the same. A method of manufacturing a metal nanoparticles impregnated activated carbon fiber for removing harmful substances according to the present disclosure includes an activation step of manufacturing an activated carbon fiber by heat-treating a precursor including a waste carbon fiber under a mixed atmosphere of activation gases including water vapor, carbon monoxide, nitrogen, argon, helium, or combinations thereof, and a metal containing step of containing metal in the activated carbon fiber. According to the present disclosure, a carbonization process is unnecessary since a precursor including the waste carbon fiber is used, and the metal nanoparticles impregnated activated carbon fiber may have remarkably improved adsorptive power compared to an activated carbon fiber with the same specific surface area by controlling the micropore distribution.

A recessed carbon nanotube article includes a base; a substrate disposed on the base; wells disposed in the substrate and bounded by the base and a substrate wall; and a carbon nanotube element disposed in individual wells and including vertically aligned carbon nanotubes such that a longitudinal length of the vertically aligned carbon nanotubes is less than a depth of the well in which the carbon nanotube element is disposed. A recessed carbon nanotube bolometer includes a base; a substrate on the base; radiation wells in the substrate; carbon nanotubes in the wells; thermistors and heaters on the membrane arranged as an electrical substitution member. A process for making a recessed carbon nanotube bolometer includes forming a substrate on a base; forming a radiation well in the substrate; forming carbon nanotubes in the well; disposing a cover on the wells; and forming a thermistor and a heater on the base.

An object of the present invention is to provide a sizing agent composition that gives a carbon fiber from which a carbon fiber-reinforced composite material having excellent adhesion between a resin and the carbon fiber and having excellent mechanical properties can be formed. The sizing agent composition of the invention is a sizing agent composition comprising (A) a blocked isocyanate, and (B) a compound containing at least one polar group and at least one unsaturated group per molecule. In the invention, the mixing ratio (mass ratio) of the blocked isocyanate (A) and the compound (B) containing at least one polar group and at least one unsaturated group per molecule (A/B) is preferably 95/5 to 5/95. In the invention, the blocked isocyanate (A) is preferably a compound having an aliphatic skeleton.

Provided is composite carbon fibers in which polymers having an amino containing group are covalently bonded to the surface of the carbon fiber. Aspects are also directed to processes for preparing the composite carbon fibers. Additional aspects are directed to reinforced composites comprising a resin matrix and the composite carbon fibers, and to processes of making such reinforced composites.

Provided is composite carbon fibers in which polymers having an amino containing group are covalently bonded to the surface of the carbon fiber. Aspects are also directed to processes for preparing the composite carbon fibers. Additional aspects are directed to reinforced composites comprising a resin matrix and the composite carbon fibers, and to processes of making such reinforced composites.

A fiber comprises a bulk material comprising: one or more of carbon, silicon, boron, silicon carbide, and boron nitride; and a metal or metal alloy whose affinity for oxygen is greater than that of the bulk material. At least a first portion of the metal or metal alloy is present at the entrance to grain boundaries at the surface of the fiber and within the fiber to a depth of at least 1 micron from the fiber surface.

A method of improving a fiber comprises heating a fiber in an inert atmosphere to 900-1300 C for sufficient time to allow at least some of a metal or metal alloy, placed on the fiber, to diffuse and/or flow into and along grain boundaries to a depth of at least 1 micron. The metal or metal alloy has a greater affinity for oxygen than that of the fiber bulk material.

A fiber comprises a bulk material comprising: one or more of carbon, silicon, boron, silicon carbide, and boron nitride; and a metal or metal alloy whose affinity for oxygen is greater than that of the bulk material. At least a first portion of the metal or metal alloy is present at the entrance to grain boundaries at the surface of the fiber and within the fiber to a depth of at least 1 micron from the fiber surface.

A method of improving a fiber comprises heating a fiber in an inert atmosphere to 900-1300 C for sufficient time to allow at least some of a metal or metal alloy, placed on the fiber, to diffuse and/or flow into and along grain boundaries to a depth of at least 1 micron. The metal or metal alloy has a greater affinity for oxygen than that of the fiber bulk material.

The surface of a carbon fiber is electrochemically treated by a method to form nitrogen containing groups on the surface of the carbon fiber. The method comprises contacting a carbon fiber surface with an aqueous solution comprised of a non-cyclic aliphatic amine and water soluble inorganic hydroxide with said aqueous solution having a pH of at least 9. A positive electrical bias is then applied to the carbon fibers in the aqueous solution relative to another electrode in contact with the aqueous solution, wherein the positive electrical bias is at a voltage above the oxidation potential of water. The treated carbon fibers are useful for making epoxy reinforced carbon fiber composites.

Graphene has been used in nanocomposites as constituents/doping in plastics or epoxy providing dramatic enhancement of the mechanical properties but have not progressed past the laboratory level novelty. This invention can provide a graphene based composite structure with a density less that 1.9 g/cm.sup.3 for a fiber, yarn, rope or cable and a density less that 1.5 g/cm.sup.3 for a sheet both structure have tensile and shear strength greater than either Aluminum or Steel; thus providing a graphene material that is both much lighter and stronger.

Graphene has been used in nanocomposites as constituents/doping in plastics or epoxy providing dramatic enhancement of the mechanical properties but have not progressed past the laboratory level novelty. This invention can provide a graphene based composite structure with a density less that 1.9 g/cm.sup.3 for a fiber, yarn, rope or cable and a density less that 1.5 g/cm.sup.3 for a sheet both structure have tensile and shear strength greater than either Aluminum or Steel; thus providing a graphene material that is both much lighter and stronger.