Discrete carbon nanotubes with targeted oxidation levels and stable gel formulations thereof

Abstract

Discrete, individualized carbon nanotubes having targeted, or selective, oxidation levels and/or content on the interior and exterior of the tube walls are claimed. Such carbon nanotubes can have little to no inner tube surface oxidation, or differing amounts and/or types of oxidation between the tubes' inner and outer surfaces. These new discrete carbon nanotubes are useful in plasticizers, which can then be used as an additive in compounding and formulation of elastomeric, thermoplastic and thermoset composite for improvement of mechanical, electrical and thermal properties.

We claim: 
     
         1 . In a composition comprising a plurality of discrete carbon nanotubes, wherein the discrete carbon nanotubes comprise an interior and exterior sidewall surface, the improvement comprising: the interior sidewall surface comprising an interior surface oxidized species content and the exterior sidewall surface comprising an exterior surface oxidized species content, wherein the interior surface oxidized species content differs from the exterior surface oxidized species content by at least 20%, and as high as 100% and wherein the composition further comprises a species of electro-magnetic active particles. 
     
     
         2 . The improvement of  claim 1 , wherein the species of electro-magnetic active particles are bound to the exterior of the carbon nanotubes. 
     
     
         3 . The improvement of  claim 1 , wherein the species of electro-magnetic active particles comprise from about 0.01% to about 10% of the composition relative to the carbon weight. 
     
     
         4 . The improvement of  claim 1 , wherein the carbon nanotubes may be directed or influenced by the application of a magnetic field. 
     
     
         5 . The improvement of  claim 2 , wherein the carbon nanotubes bound to the species of electro-magnetic active particles may be directed or influenced by the application of a magnetic field. 
     
     
         6 . The improvement of  claim 1 , further comprising a second species of electro-magnetic active particles. 
     
     
         7 . The improvement of  claim 2 , further comprising a second species of electro-magnetic active particles. 
     
     
         8 . The improvement of  claim 1 , wherein the plurality of discrete carbon nanotubes comprises a plurality of open ended tubes. 
     
     
         9 . The improvement of  claim 1 , wherein the interior surface oxidized species content is less than the exterior surface oxidized species content. 
     
     
         10 . The improvement of  claim 2 , wherein the interior surface oxidized species content is less than the exterior surface oxidized species content. 
     
     
         11 . The improvement of  claim 1 , wherein the interior surface oxidized species content comprises up to 3 weight percent relative to carbon nanotube weight. 
     
     
         12 . The improvement of  claim 2 , wherein the interior surface oxidized species content comprises up to 3 weight percent relative to carbon nanotube weight 
     
     
         13 . The improvement of  claim 1 , wherein the exterior surface oxidized species content comprises from about 1 to about 6 weight percent relative to carbon nanotube weight. 
     
     
         14 . The improvement of  claim 2 , wherein the exterior surface oxidized species content comprises from about 1 to about 6 weight percent relative to carbon nanotube weight. 
     
     
         15 . The improvement of  claim 1 , wherein the composition further comprises at least one rubber. 
     
     
         16 . The improvement of  claim 1 , wherein the composition further comprises at least one payload molecule. 
     
     
         17 . The improvement of  claim 2 , wherein the composition further comprises at least one payload molecule. 
     
     
         18 . The improvement of  claim 1 , wherein the oxidized species is selected from the group consisting of carboxylic acids, phenols, aldehydes, ketones, ether linkages, and combinations thereof. 
     
     
         19 . The improvement of  claim 1 , wherein the composition further comprises carbon black. 
     
     
         20 . The improvement of  claim 1 , wherein the composition further comprises carbon nanotubes that are at least partially entangled.