Yarn for reinforcing composite materials

Abstract

A yarn for reinforcing composite material includes carbon nanotubes. The yarn has also been treated to promote interaction with a resinous matrix.

Having described the invention, and a preferred embodiment thereof, what is claimed as new, and secured by Letters Patent is: 
     
         1 . A method for manufacturing a manufacture, said method comprising forming carbon nanotubes, spinning said carbon nanotubes into a yarn, and treating said yarn to promote interaction with a resinous matrix. 
     
     
         2 . The method of  claim 1 , further comprising treating said yarn to enable a stitching machine to use said yarn to stitch into a composite material. 
     
     
         3 . The method of  claim 1 , further comprising treating said yarn with sizing. 
     
     
         4 . The method of  claim 1 , further comprising treating said yarn with spalling. 
     
     
         5 . The method of  claim 1 , further comprising treating said yarn with friction-reducing film. 
     
     
         6 . The method of  claim 1 , further comprising treating said yarn with epoxy. 
     
     
         7 . The method of  claim 1 , further comprising treating said yarn with thermoplastic. 
     
     
         8 . The method of  claim 1 , further comprising treating said yarn with a substance selected from the group consisting of PEEK and PEI. 
     
     
         9 . The method of  claim 1 , further comprising treating said yarn with urethane-based plastic. 
     
     
         10 . The method of  claim 1 , further comprising treating said yarn with thermoset material. 
     
     
         11 . The method of  claim 1 , further comprising treating said yarn with polyimide. 
     
     
         12 . The apparatus of  claim 1 , further comprising treating said yarn to promote absorption of resinous material. 
     
     
         13 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein forming carbon nanotubes comprises forming said carbon nanotubes at temperatures higher than 1000 C. 
     
     
         14 . A manufacture comprising a yarn, said yarn comprising carbon nanotubes, said yarn having been treated to lo promote interaction with a resinous matrix. 
     
     
         15 . The manufacture of  claim 14 , further comprising a pre-treatment resin that infiltrates said yarn and that fuses with a resinous matrix of a composite material. 
     
     
         16 . The manufacture of  claim 14 , further comprising a plurality of layers having interstitial spaces filled with said resinous matrix, wherein said yarn passes through said layers. 
     
     
         17 . The manufacture of  claim 14 , wherein yarn is swollen with liquid absorbed from said resinous matrix. 
     
     
         18 . The manufacture of  claim 14 , further comprising mechanical interlocks between said yarn and said resinous matrix. 
     
     
         19 . The manufacture of  claim 14 , wherein said carbon nanotubes are single-wall nanotubes. 
     
     
         20 . The manufacture of  claim 14 , wherein said carbon nanotubes are long enough to spin into a fiber.