Hybrid boron nitride-natural fiber composites for enhanced thermal conductivity

Abstract

Thermal conductivity was dramatically increased after adding natural fiber into hexagonal boron nitride (hBN)/epoxy composites. Although natural fiber does not show high-thermal conductivity itself, this study found that the synergy of natural fiber with hBN could significantly improve thermal conductivity, compared with that solely using hBN. A design of mixtures approach using constant fibers with increasing volume fractions of hBN was examined and compared. The thermal conductivity of the composite containing 43.6% hBN, 26.3% kenaf fiber and 30.1% epoxy reached 6.418 W m−1 K−1, which was 72.3% higher than that (3.600 W m−1 K−1) of the 69.0% hBN and 31.0% epoxy composite. Using the scanning electron microscope (SEM) and micro computed tomography (micro-CT), it was observed that the hBN powders were well distributed and ordered on the fiber surfaces enhancing the ceramic filler’s interconnection, which may be the reason for the increase in thermal conductivity. Additionally, the results from mechanical and dynamic mechanical tests showed that performances dramatically improved after adding kenaf fibers into the hBN/epoxy composite, potentially benefiting the composite’s use as an engineered material.

Role, effect, and influences of micro and nano‐fillers on various properties of polymer matrix composites for microelectronics: A review

“…They concluded that the BN added composite shows better “K” and smaller D k value compared with AlN reinforced composite, and proposed optimum values for HGM with BN were presented. Natural fiber strengthened epoxy composites are the poor thermal conductors; C. Xia et al added various percentages of h‐BN with natural fibre epoxy composites and evaluated the “K” of pure and filler added composites, and the values were reported. Maximum “K” value was 6.418 W m −1 K −1 corresponding to 43.8% filler incorporation.…”

Enhanced thermal conductivity and mechanical properties of hybrid MoS2/h‐BN polyurethane nanocomposites

“…Xia and co‐works demonstrated as well the synergistic effect between the natural fiber (kenaf) and h‐BN in epoxy. This type of fiber is not conductive by itself, however the thermal conductivity of composite obtained from h‐BN/kenaf fiber/epoxy with 43.6 wt % of h‐BN was 72.3% higher than only kenaf/epoxy.…”

Study of Hexagonal Boron Nitride Particulate as Vibration Behaviour Modifier of Alternate Stacked Glass–Natural Fibre Polymer Composite Laminate

“…The flax/basalt hybrid reinforced with vinyl ester laminates enhances the durability and water repellence behaviour [11]. The inclusion of kenaf fibre with hexagonal boron nitride (hBN) and epoxy increases the thermal conductivity of the composite than with hBN and epoxy alone [12].…”