Recent advances in thermally conductive polymer composites

Abstract

Polymer matrix composites (PMCs) with high thermal conductivity (TC) play an important role in improving the heat dissipation capacity of a new generation of electronic devices, particularly for 5G and aviation applications. Over the last few decades, considerable efforts have been made in the fabrication of highly thermally conductive PMCs. Advances in the thermal conduction mechanism of polymer composites are induced to, and then commonly used thermally conductive fillers are presented. In the following, the factors affecting the TC of polymer composites are discussed in detail, including fillers, interfaces, polymer matrices and processing technologies. Special attention is paid to the thermally conductive fillers. Then, some application areas of thermally conductive polymer composites are introduced. Finally, the deficiencies and future development trends in this research field are put forward. It is expected that this review will provide some beneficial inspiration in improving the TC of PMCs.

Research advances in preparation, mechanism and application of thermally conductive and electrically insulating polymer composites in thermal management materials: A review

“…Figure 6(d) showed the volume resistivity of pure PDMS, random BN-PDMS, and 3D BN-PDMS composites. The 3D BN-PDMS composite had high insulation performance, and its volume resistivity value was greater than 10 15 VÁcm.…”

“…The λ of SiC-BNNS/epoxy nanocomposite was 0.89 W/(mK) when the filling amount of SiC-BNNS was 20 wt%. The SiC-BNNS/epoxy resin nanocomposites also showed good electrical insulation performance, with a breakdown strength of 22.1 kV/mm, volume resistivity of 2.32 × 10 15 VÁcm, and surface resistivity of 1.26 × 10 15 VÁcm. The PVDF composites were prepared with h-BN and surface functionalized silicon carbide (f-SiC) nanowires.…”

“…13,14 According to the difference of material preparation technology and processing conditions, the thermal conductive polymers can be divided into intrinsic thermal conductive polymers and filled thermal conductive polymers. 15 Among them, intrinsic thermal conductive polymers are mainly a kind of ordered distribution structure obtained by changing the molecular chain structure of polymer, so as to improve the intrinsic λ of polymer. Although fully crystallized highly oriented polymers can achieve an increase in the intrinsic λ, their processing conditions are very difficult to achieve and the cost is very high, which makes it difficult to achieve large-scale or industrial production.…”