Abstract:
A three-dimensional lattice architecture with a thickness hierarchy includes a first surface and a second surface separated from each other with a distance therebetween defining a thickness of the three-dimensional lattice architecture; a plurality of angled struts extending along a plurality of directions between the first surface and the second surface; a plurality of nodes connecting the plurality of angled struts with one another forming a plurality of unit cells. At least a portion of the plurality of angled struts are internally terminated along the thickness direction of the lattice structure and providing a plurality of internal degrees of freedom towards the first or second surface of the lattice architecture.
Abstract:
A system for forming a micro-truss structure including a reservoir having walls and a flat bottom configured to hold a volume of a liquid photomonomer configured to form a photopolymer when exposed to light, a partially transparent mask secured to, or being, the bottom of the reservoir, a release layer on the mask configured to resist adhesion by the photopolymer, and a blocker positioned a first distance below the mask. The system also includes a light source positioned below the blocker configured to produce collimated light suitable for causing conversion of the photomonomer into the photopolymer, and to which the blocker is opaque, and a first mirror, oblique to the blocker, configured to reflect the light from the light source around the blocker and through the mask and into the reservoir. The blocker is positioned to block a straight path of light from the light source to the mask.
Abstract:
In some variations, a polymer-based microlattice structure includes a plurality of intersecting micro-truss structural elements each comprising a thermoset first polymer, and a continuous coating layer (with a second polymer) that substantially encapsulates each of the micro-truss structural elements, wherein the second polymer in the continuous coating layer bonds the thermoset first polymer to a substrate. The micro-truss structural elements preferably are architecturally ordered and the coating layer is uniformly distributed within the microlattice structure. The polymer coating layer may be present over the entire microlattice surface area, thereby increasing bond area to improve toughness. The microlattice structure may also have higher glass-transition temperature and chemical resistance, compared to a microlattice structure without the coating layer. Methods of forming a polymer-based microlattice structure are also disclosed.
Abstract:
An ordered open-cellular carbon microstructure and a methods for forming the ordered open-cellular carbon microstructure capable of greatly improving the carbon yield (remaining mass % after carbonization) of an open-cellular polymer material. In one embodiment, the method starts with providing an ordered open-cellular polymer template material. The polymer template material is immersed in a reservoir containing a liquid monomer solution, wherein the liquid monomer solution swells the polymer material. Then the polymer template material is removed from the reservoir containing liquid monomer solution. Excess liquid monomer solution is removed from the polymer template material. The liquid monomer solution absorbed into the polymer template material is polymerized forming a copolymer material by irradiating the template material with ultraviolet (UV) light in a nitrogen environment. The copolymer material is heated in an inert atmosphere, wherein the copolymer material is carbonized resulting in the ordered open-cellular carbon microstructure.
Abstract:
Described is a micro-lattice damping material and a method for repeatable energy absorption. The micro-lattice damping material is a cellular material formed of a three-dimensional interconnected network of hollow tubes. This material is operable to provide high damping, specifically acoustic, vibration or shock damping, by utilizing the energy absorption mechanism of hollow tube buckling, which is rendered repeatable by the micro-lattice architecture.
Abstract:
A method for creating a sandwich panel heat pipe is disclosed. A three-dimensional ordered micro-truss core comprising a plurality of periodically disposed unit cells comprising an open-cellular microstructure and a free space defined by the open-cellular microstructure wherein the core comprises a vapor region and a liquid region separated by a mesh structure. A first face sheet and a second face sheet are stacked with the three-dimensional ordered micro-truss core to form a heat pipe assembly with the mesh structure in the three-dimensional ordered micro-truss core being planar and substantially parallel to the first face sheet and the second face sheet. The first and second face sheets are bonded to enclose the three-dimensional ordered micro-truss core wherein the free space of the three-dimensional ordered micro-truss core between the first and second face sheets is filled with a working fluid through an inlet and the inlet is sealed.
Abstract:
A new battery structure as disclosed allows convective flow of electrolyte through three-dimensional structured electrodes. Hierarchical battery structure design enables three-dimensional metal structures with fluid transport capabilities. Some variations provide a lithium-ion battery system with convective electrolyte flow, comprising: a positive electrode comprising a lithium-containing electrode material and a conductive network with hollow liquid-transport conduits; a negative electrode comprising a lithium-containing electrode material in the conductive network; a separator that electronically isolates the positive and negative electrodes; and a liquid electrolyte contained within the hollow liquid-transport conduits of the conductive network. The hollow liquid-transport conduits serve as structural members, and the walls of these conduits serve as current collectors. The conductive networks may include a micro-lattice structure with a cellular material formed of hollow tubes. Performance and thermal management of lithium-ion batteries (and other types of batteries) can be improved.
Abstract:
Methods of embedding at least one fastener in a sandwich structure having an ordered three-dimensional microstructure core provided between a pair of facesheets. The method includes attaching the at least one fastener to a first facesheet. The method also includes irradiating a volume of photo-monomer in a reservoir with light beams to form an ordered three-dimensional microstructure core around the at least one fastener. The method also includes attaching a second facesheet to the ordered three-dimensional microstructure core to form the sandwich structure. The fasteners embedded in the sandwich structure are configured to facilitate attachment of the sandwich structure to another structure.
Abstract:
A micro-truss sheet having material properties varying across the sheet. The sheet may include a plurality of truss members intersecting at nodes. The diameter of the truss members at one point in the sheet may differ from the diameter of the truss members at another point in the sheet. In one embodiment the spacing between adjacent truss members may be different in one part of the sheet from the spacing between adjacent truss members in another part of the sheet.
Abstract:
A sandwich material having both structural strength and significant acoustic attenuation. In one embodiment, a sandwich is composed of an architected core secured between two facesheets, with a compliant layer forming the connection between the core and the facesheets. The compliant core has a low modulus, resulting in a low speed for elastic shear waves in the sandwich, at low static loads. At high static loads the compliant material stiffens and allows the sandwich to exhibit significant structural strength.