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.

A composite including: silicon (Si); a silicon oxide of the formula SiOx, wherein 0<x<2; and a graphene disposed on the silicon oxide.

The present invention provides methods for uniform growth of nanostructures such as nanotubes (e.g., carbon nanotubes) on the surface of a substrate, wherein the long axes of the nanostructures may be substantially aligned. The nanostructures may be further processed for use in various applications, such as composite materials. For example, a set of aligned nanostructures may be formed and transferred, either in bulk or to another surface, to another material to enhance the properties of the material. In some cases, the nanostructures may enhance the mechanical properties of a material, for example, providing mechanical reinforcement at an interface between two materials or plies. In some cases, the nanostructures may enhance thermal and/or electronic properties of a material. The present invention also provides systems and methods for growth of nanostructures, including batch processes and continuous processes.

Conductive polymer fibers 10, in which a conductor 12 containing a conductive polymer impregnates and/or adheres to base fibers 11, and the aforementioned conductive polymer is PEDOT-PSS.

The present invention provides methods for uniform growth of nanostructures such as nanotubes (e.g., carbon nanotubes) on the surface of a substrate, wherein the long axes of the nanostructures may be substantially aligned. The nanostructures may be further processed for use in various applications, such as composite materials. For example, a set of aligned nanostructures may be formed and transferred, either in bulk or to another surface, to another material to enhance the properties of the material. In some cases, the nanostructures may enhance the mechanical properties of a material, for example, providing mechanical reinforcement at an interface between two materials or plies. In some cases, the nanostructures may enhance thermal and/or electronic properties of a material. The present invention also provides systems and methods for growth of nanostructures, including batch processes and continuous processes.

The present invention relates to a surface modified overhead conductor with a coating that allows the conductor to operate at lower temperatures. The coating contains about 5% to about 30% of an inorganic adhesive, about 45% to about 92% of a filler, about 2% to about 20% of one or more emissivity agents, and about 1% to about 5% of a stabilizer.

A carbon fiber bundle from which a carbon fiber composite material having high tensile strength can be obtained has the following configuration. Specifically, the carbon fiber bundle has a strand elastic modulus of 265-300 GPa, strand strength of at least 6.0 GPa, and knot strength of at least 820 N/mm.sup.2, and includes at least 30,000 filaments.

Conductive polymer fibers 10, in which a conductor 12 containing a conductive polymer impregnates and/or adheres to base fibers 11, and the aforementioned conductive polymer is PEDOT-PSS.

The invention relates to glass strands and glass strand structures coated with an electrically conducting coating composition which comprises (as % by weight of solid matter): 6 to 50% of a film-forming agent, preferably 6 to 45%, 5 to 40% of at least one compound chosen from plasticizing agents, surface-active agents and/or dispersing agents, 20 to 75% of electrically conducting particles, 0 to 10% of a doping agent, 0 to 10% of a thickening agent, 0 to 15% of additives. The invention also relates to the electrically conducting coating composition used to coat the said strands and strand structures, to their process of manufacture and to the composite materials including these strands or strand structures. Application to the preparation of structures and composite materials which can be heated by the Joule effect or which can be used for electromagnetic shielding.