The effect of Al2O3 doped multi-walled carbon nanotubes on the thermal conductivity of Al2O3/epoxy terminated poly(dimethylsiloxane) composites

✍ Scribed by Hyungu Im; Jooheon Kim

• Publisher: Elsevier Science
• Year: 2011
• Tongue: English
• Weight: 986 KB
• Volume: 49
• Category: Article
• ISSN: 0008-6223
• DOI: 10.1016/j.carbon.2011.04.049

✦ Synopsis

Al 2 O 3 doped multi-walled carbon nanotubes (MWCNT) were synthesized as a conducting additive in alumina-epoxy terminated poly(dimethylsiloxane) (ETDS). The addition of Al 2 O 3 doped MWCNT improved the thermal conductivity of the composites, which was a function of the Al 2 O 3 loading. The mechanisms underlying this enhanced conductivity were examined in the context of the Hashin-Shtrikman (HS) boundaries and interconnectivity. The measured thermal conductivity revealed more enhanced thermal conductivity than expected by analytical predictions at a fixed micro Al 2 O 3 concentration. Further analytical investigations showed that the addition of Al 2 O 3 doped MWCNT affected the interconnectivity between the conducting particles because of their high aspect ratios.

Overall, Al 2 O 3 doped MWCNT may be useful for establishing three-dimensional heat conducting percolating networks in a matrix that affect the thermal conductivity of a composite.