We report and model a linear increase in the thermal conductivity (κ) of polymer composites incorporated with relatively low length/diameter aspect ratio multiwalled carbon nanotubes (CNTs). There was no evidence of percolation-like behavior in the κ, at/close to the theoretically predicted threshold, which was attributed due to the interfacial resistance between the CNT and the polymer matrix. Concomitantly, the widely postulated high thermal conductivity of CNTs does not contribute to the net thermal conductivity of the composites. Through estimating the interfacial resistance and the thermal conductivity of the constituent CNTs, we conclude that our experimental and modeling approaches can be used to study thermal transport behavior in nanotube–polymer composites.
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The Influence of Carbon Nanotube Aspect Ratio on Thermal Conductivity Enhancement in Nanotube–Polymer Composites
Rahul S. Kapadia,
Prabhakar R. Bandaru
Prabhakar R. Bandaru
Professor
e-mail: pbandaru@ucsd.edu
University of California,
e-mail: pbandaru@ucsd.edu
Department of Mechanical Engineering
,University of California,
San Diego, CA 92093
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Rahul S. Kapadia
e-mail: rskapadi@ucsd.edu
Brian M. Louie
e-mail: bmlouie@ucsd.edu
Prabhakar R. Bandaru
Professor
e-mail: pbandaru@ucsd.edu
University of California,
e-mail: pbandaru@ucsd.edu
Department of Mechanical Engineering
,University of California,
San Diego, CA 92093
Contributed by the Heat Transfer Division of ASME for publication in the Journal of Heat Transfer. Manuscript received February 28, 2013; final manuscript received July 9, 2013; published online October 25, 2013. Assoc. Editor: Oronzio Manca.
J. Heat Transfer. Jan 2014, 136(1): 011303 (6 pages)
Published Online: October 25, 2013
Article history
Received:
February 28, 2013
Revision Received:
July 9, 2013
Citation
Kapadia, R. S., Louie, B. M., and Bandaru, P. R. (October 25, 2013). "The Influence of Carbon Nanotube Aspect Ratio on Thermal Conductivity Enhancement in Nanotube–Polymer Composites." ASME. J. Heat Transfer. January 2014; 136(1): 011303. https://doi.org/10.1115/1.4025047
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