F R A U N H O F E R - I N S T I T U T E F O R M A N U F A C T U R I N G E N G I N E E R I N G A N D A U T O M AT I O N I PA

1 2

1 Carbon Nanotube (CNT) CARBON NANOTUBE MODIFIED

2 CNT in home appliance: water
cooker, toaster and espresso machine CERAMICS FOR NOVEL HEATER,
MEMBRANES AND RESISTORS

Fraunhofer Institute for General Description Applications

Manufacturing Engineering and
Automation IPA The department „Process Engineering of The usage of these new materials opens up
Functional Materials“ as a pioneer in the innovative application areas such as energy-
Nobelstr. 12 application development of carbon nano- optimized resistance heating elements,
70569 Stuttgart tubes (CNTs) operates in Stuttgart and is a which will substitute classical oil heating
research center for the material and process systems within the next years. This kind of
Directors: development. Thereby, outstanding ther- new heating systems will need 60% less
Prof. Dr.-Ing. Prof. e.h. Dr. h.c. mult. mal, electrical, mechanical and tribological energy than existing fluid-based heaters
Engelbert Westkämper properties of CNTs are transferred to varying in laminating machines. Further potential
Prof. Dr.-Ing. Alexander Verl applications. applications arise from mechanical requi-
rements for systems, in which additionally
Contact: Since 2006, experts developed CNT com- uniform distribution of heat is required. As a
Dipl.-Ing. (FH) Ivica Kolaric, MBA posites based on several ceramics such result, applications as self-sustaining heating
Phone +49 (0)711 970 3729 as aluminium oxide, aluminium nitride or elements can be easily realized.
Ivica.Kolaric@ipa.fraunhofer.de silicium carbide. CNT modified ceramics can also be used
to produced thin and flexible sheets. These
www.ipa.fraunhofer.de sheets can be modified in porosity and elec-

1
trical conductivity and perfectly meet the Possible Applications
needs of modern barrier films for batteries.
In addition these ceramic sheets be modified • High-temperature heaters up to 700°C in
to anisotropic electrical conductivity Thus, domestic appliances, industrial machines
these sheets can have an electrical conduc- or the chemical industry
tive core and isolating shell. As a result, no • Novel applications in the field of heating
electrical isolation is needed. pipes, e.g. heaters up to 400°C with a
Furthermore, a micro- and nanoporous supply voltage of 24V
ceramic can be created by dispersing CNTs • Flexible barrier films for batteries
in the ceramic matrix and burned out in a • Nano porous membranes
controlled process. These ceramic can be • Electrodes
used in micro- and nanoporous filters e.g. • Electrical isolating heat sink
for water filters.
Benefit for Customers
• Customized porosity
• Variable heating zones in a single heating
element
• Cheaper running costs than oil-based
heating systems
• Anisotropic electrical conductivity
• Robust and save system
• Easy to apply
• Cost effective system
Picture: Breakfast with CNT water • Chemical resistance of the heating ele-
cooker, toaster and espresso machine ments
2
Characteristic Data
• Significantly improved resistance to ther-
mal shock
• Uniform heat allocation
• CNT composite is a conductor in itself
• Still electrically conductive while partially
damage
• High thermal conductivity (> 220 W/(m
K))
• Low specific heat capacity (about 1 kJ/
kg K)
• Short response time
• Heating power and resistance can be
adjusted during production process (0.01
Ωm up till 0.1 Ωm)
1 CNT Ceramic tube with 50 cm
diameter 200 cm length
2 Heat image of a high temperature
ceramic heater