Investigation on preparation, thermal, and mechanical properties of carbon fiber decorated with hexagonal boron nitride/silicone rubber composites for battery thermal management

Abstract

Adding thermally conductive filler to polymer matrix is a workable way to increase its thermal conductivity. In this work, carbon fiber (CF) and hexagonal boron nitride (h-BN) were employed to obtain hybrid fillers, firstly, (mh-BN@CF) by electrostatic self-assembly method, then added mh-BN@CF to silicone rubber (SR) matrix to prepare mh-BN@CF/SR composites. There was a good interface compatibility between mh-BN@CF and SR matrix. Besides, the composites can achieve best thermal conductivity when h-BN and CF are at the optimal fill ratio. When the mass ratio of h-BN:CF is7:3 and the filling content is 54 phr, the thermal conductivity of mh-BN@CF/SR can reach 1.3 W/ (m K), and it is 23.7% and 400.4% larger than the mixed-filled h-BN/CF/SR composites and SR matrix, respectively. Simultaneously, the mh-BN@CF/SR composites also exhibited good electrical insulation, mechanical properties, and thermal stability. Finally, the prepared composites are used in a liquidcooled battery thermal management system (BTMS). The effect of the composites on the performance of the BTMS is discussed by numerical method. The results show that the improved thermal conductivity of the composites can highly reduce the temperature of the battery cells. The prepared composites can highly enhance the performance of BTMS.

Siloxane‐Based Organosilicon Materials in Electrochemical Energy Storage Devices

“…The results indicated that the composites with improved thermal conductivity can effectively reduce the battery temperature and highly enhance the performance of the BTMS. [77] In addition, silicone can withstand extreme low or high temperature, delivering excellent thermal stability and showing great potentials in aeronautics and astronautics. [78] Furthermore, silicone can serve as a sealant for multiple energy storage devices, effectively improving the battery performances and reliability.…”

Review of Boron Compounds in Lithium Batteries: Electrolyte, Anode, Cathode, Separator, and Battery Thermal Management System (BTMS)

“…One paper concluded that 30 wt% of h-BN made the thermal conductivity 3.4 times higher than that of pristine silicone rubber [120]. Another paper showed that the thermal conductivity would be four times higher if using hybrid fillers of h-BN carbon fillers [121]. Apart from conventional systems, there are also studies on using non-conventional systems along with BN.…”

Siloxane‐Based Organosilicon Materials in Electrochemical Energy Storage Devices

“…The mh‐BN@CF/SR composites were used in a liquid‐cooled battery thermal management system (BTMS), exhibiting good mechanical properties, electrical insulation, and thermal stability. The results indicated that the composites with improved thermal conductivity can effectively reduce the battery temperature and highly enhance the performance of the BTMS [77] . In addition, silicone can withstand extreme low or high temperature, delivering excellent thermal stability and showing great potentials in aeronautics and astronautics [78] .…”

“…Reproduced with permission. [77] Copyright 2019, Wiley. rubber (D, R/Si = 2) combined with 3D printing has shown potential towards flexible devices with accurately shaped structures and various patterns.…”

“…Surface temperature variation with time during the E) heating and F) cooling process for different samples. Reproduced with permission [77] . Copyright 2019, Wiley.…”