Document Type : Research Article

Authors

• Sung Yong Kim ¹
• Megha Chitranshi ²
• Anuptha Pujari ³
• Vianessa Ng ³
• Ashley Kubley ⁴
• Ronald Hudepohl ⁵
• Vesselin Shanov ⁶
• Devanathan Anantharaman ⁷
• Daniel Chen ³
• Devika Chauhan ⁸
• Mark Schulz ⁹

¹ Mechanical and Design Engineering, NSML, Pukyong National University, Busan 48513, Korea

² Electrical Engineering & Computer Science, University of Cincinnati (UC), Cincinnati, Ohio, 45221, USA

³ Materials Science and Engineering, UC, Cincinnati, Ohio, 45221, USA

⁴ Fashion Design, College of Design, Art, Architecture and Planning, UC, Cincinnati, Ohio, 45221, USA

⁵ College of Engrg. & Applied Sciences, UC, Cincinnati, Ohio, 45221, USA

⁶ Chemical & Environmental Engrg., UC, 580 Engineering Research Center, Cincinnati, Ohio, 45221, USA

⁷ Aerospace Engineering and Engineering Mechanics, UC, 745 Baldwin Hall, Cincinnati, Ohio, 45221, USA

⁸ Mechanical Engineering, UC, Cincinnati, Ohio, 45221, USA

⁹ University of Cincinnati

Abstract

This paper addresses the design of a reactor system for manufacturing carbon nanotube (CNT) fabric and carbon hybrid materials (CHM). A web or sock of CNT is formed in a reactor tube in the gas phase pyrolysis method. The sock exits the reactor tube and is wound layer by layer onto a drum to directly form a nonwoven fabric. Metal nanoparticles and continuous microfibers can be integrated into the synthesis process to form CHM. Continuous direct manufacturing of fabric is an advantage of the method. However, the reliability of this manufacturing process in our particular reactor system is affected by several problems. These include occasional breaking of the sock, the need for daily cleaning of the ceramic reactor tube due to carbon deposits on the inside, sagging/bending of the reactor tube, and safety in handling the hydrogen gas produced from the reaction. Possible solutions to the problems are proposed. The importance of this research is that no other bulk material has the combination of properties of CNT hybrid fabric. If the properties can be further improved and customized, and if manufacturing of the material can be scaled-up at reasonable cost, many new commercial applications for nanotube custom materials could open up. 

Keywords

• Carbon nanotube manufacturing
• hybrid material
• Nanoparticles

Main Subjects

• Carbon Materials and Technology