Reinforcing nanofiber additives

Abstract

Provided herein are high performance reinforcing nanostructure additives, high throughput processes for using such additives, and composites comprising such additives. Such nanostructure additives include nanofibers, including nanofiber fragments, of various matrix materials, including metal(s) (e.g., elemental metal(s), metal alloy(s), etc.), metal oxide(s), ceramic(s), metal carbide(s), carbon (e.g., carbon nanocomposites comprising carbon matrix with metal component embedded therein), and/or combinations thereof.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . A nanofiber comprising a metal precursor and a polymer, the weight-to-weight ratio of the metal precursor to the polymer being at least 1:2, at least 20% of the metal precursor being associated with the polymer. 
     
     
         2 . The nanofiber of  claim 1 , wherein the weight-to-weight ratio of the metal precursor to the polymer is at least 1:1. 
     
     
         3 . The nanofiber of  claim 2 , wherein the weight-to-weight ratio of the metal precursor to the polymer is at least 2:1. 
     
     
         4 . The nanofiber of  claim 1 , wherein at least 50% of the metal precursor is associated with the polymer. 
     
     
         5 . The nanofiber of  claim 4 , wherein at least 85% of the metal precursor is associated with the polymer. 
     
     
         6 . The nanofiber of  claim 1 , wherein at least 20% of the polymer is loaded with metal precursor. 
     
     
         7 . The nanofiber of  claim 6 , wherein at least 40% of the polymer is loaded with metal precursor. 
     
     
         8 . The nanofiber of  claim 7 , wherein at least 60% of the polymer is loaded with metal precursor. 
     
     
         9 . The nanofiber of  claim 8 , wherein at least 80% of the polymer is loaded with metal precursor. 
     
     
         10 . The nanofiber of  claim 1 , wherein the polymer is polyvinylalcohol (PVA), polyethylene oxide (PEO), polyvinyl ether, polyvinyl pyrrolidone (PVP), polyglycolic acid, hydroxyethylcellulose (“HEC”), ethylcellulose, cellulose ethers, polyacrylic acid, polyisocyanate. 
     
     
         11 . The nanofiber of  claim 10 , wherein the polymer is polyvinylalcohol (PVA) or polyethylene oxide (PEO). 
     
     
         12 . The nanofiber of  claim 1 , wherein the metal precursor is a silicon precursor. 
     
     
         13 . The nanofiber of  claim 1 , wherein the metal precursor comprises a metal acetate, metal alkoxide, a metal halide, a metal diketone, a metal carboxylate, a metal nitrate, a metal amine, or a combination thereof. 
     
     
         14 . A fluid composition comprising a metal precursor, a polymer, and an aqueous medium, the weight-to-weight ratio of the metal precursor to the polymer being at least 2:1, at least 20% of the metal precursor being associated with the polymer. 
     
     
         15 . The fluid composition of  claim 14 , wherein at least 50% of the metal precursor is associated with the polymer. 
     
     
         16 . The fluid composition of  claim 15 , wherein at least 85% of the metal precursor is associated with the polymer. 
     
     
         17 . The fluid composition of  claim 14 , wherein at least 40% of the polymer is loaded with metal precursor. 
     
     
         18 . The fluid composition of  claim 14 , wherein the polymer is polyvinylalcohol (PVA), polyethylene oxide (PEO), polyvinyl ether, polyvinyl pyrrolidone (PVP), polyglycolic acid, hydroxyethylcellulose (“HEC”), ethylcellulose, cellulose ethers, polyacrylic acid, polyisocyanate. 
     
     
         19 . The fluid composition of  claim 18 , wherein the polymer is polyvinylalcohol (PVA) or polyethylene oxide (PEO). 
     
     
         20 . The fluid composition of  claim 14 , wherein the metal precursor comprises a metal acetate, metal alkoxide, a metal halide, a metal diketone, a metal carboxylate, a metal nitrate, a metal amine, or a combination thereof.