A resistive heating element for use in or manufacturing of a component of an aircraft or spacecraft. The resistive heating element includes a sheet made from carbon nanotubes (CNTs) having a length of at least about 5 μ.Math.η, and formed as a nonwoven or composite polymer sheet, having good uniformity. The sheet is made with a basis weight between 1 and 50 grams per square meter (gsm), to provide a resistance value, inversely related to the basis weight, of at least about 0.01 ohms per square (Ω/□), and up to about 100 Ω/□. The CNTs can have an aspect ratio of at least about 1000:1, and at least about 10,000:1 or 100,000:1. The resistance value of the sheet can be controlled by the basis weight of CNTs, the diameter of the CNTs, and the length of CNTs, as well as chemical and mechanical treatments.

The present disclosure relates to composite articles comprising non-linear elongated nanostructures and associated systems and methods. In certain embodiments, collections of carbon nanotubes or other elongated nanostructures can be used to provide mechanical reinforcement along multiple directions within a composite article.

Membranes are described that may include aligned carbon nanotubes coated with an inorganic support layer and a polymeric matrix. Methods of membrane fabrication are described that may include coating an aligned carbon nanotube array with an inorganic support layer followed by infiltration with a polymeric solvent or solution. The support carbon nanotube membrane may have improved performance for separations such as desalination, drug delivery, or pharmaceuticals.

A carbon nanotube aggregate according to one embodiment of the present invention includes a plurality of carbon nanotubes, in which: the carbon nanotubes each have a plurality of walls; a distribution width of a wall number distribution of the carbon nanotubes is 10 walls or more; a relative frequency of a mode of the wall number distribution is 25% or less; and a length of each of the carbon nanotubes is more than 10 μm. A carbon nanotube aggregate according to another embodiment of the present invention includes a plurality of carbon nanotubes, in which: the carbon nanotubes each have a plurality of walls; a mode of a wall number distribution of the carbon nanotubes is present at a wall number of 10 or less; a relative frequency of the mode is 30% or more; and a length of each of the carbon nanotubes is more than 10 μm.

There is disclosed a material comprising an assembly of at least one spun yarn, comprising: synthetic inorganic fibers, such as carbon, metal, oxides, carbides or alloys or combinations thereof, wherein a majority of the fibers: (a) are longer than 300 μm, (b) have a diameter ranging from 0.25 nm and 700 nm, and (c) are substantially crystalline, wherein the yarn has substantial flexibility and uniformity in diameter. A method of making the material is also disclosed. In one embodiment, the method comprises spinning yarn by pulling fibers from a bulk material with at least one spinner that has real time feedback controls.

An electroconductive resin composite includes an impact modifier domains and an electroconductive fillers dispersed therein. The domains are dispersed in a matrix in the form of a domain having an average particle size of 5 μm or less. The electroconductive fillers are dispersed in the matrix or at an interface between the matrix and the domains to form a network.

An electroconductive resin composition and a molded product thereof. The electroconductive resin includes 100 parts by weight of a thermoplastic polymer resin; 0.5 to 5 parts by weight of a carbon nanotube aggregate formed of a plurality of carbon nanotubes having an average outer diameter of 8 to 50 nm and an average inner diameter that is 40% or more of the average outer diameter; and 5 to 15 parts by weight of carbon black.

The invention relates to a method of functionalizing surfaces of carbon nanomaterials using oxygen in the air. The method is clean and eco-friendly with virtually zero chemical usage and zero waste generation. The dispersion of the surface-functionalized carbon nanomaterials is excellent in organic solvents.

According to one aspect of the present invention, carbon nanotubes whose diameter, length, crystallinity, purity and the like are adjusted to predetermined ranges are added to a thermoplastic resin, and thus the thermoplastic resin can be provided with improved electrical conductivity.

This present invention relates to oxidized, discrete carbon nanotubes in dispersions, especially for use in printing inks. The dispersions can include materials such as elastomers, thermosets and thermoplastics or aqueous dispersions of open-ended carbon nanotubes with additives. A further feature of this invention relates to the development of a dispersion of oxidized, discrete carbon nanotubes that are electrically conductive.