Movable cross-linked elastomer with aligned carbon nanotube/nanofiber as high thermally conductive tough flexible composite. (12th April 2020)

• Record Type: Journal Article
• Authors: Goto, Taku; Ito, Tsuyohito; Mayumi, Koichi; Maeda, Rina; Shimizu, Yoshiki; Hatakeyama, Kazuto; Ito, Kohzo; Hakuta, Yukiya; Terashima, Kazuo
• Is Part Of: Composites science and technology. Volume 190(2020)
• Publication Date: 2020-04-12
• Subjects: Flexible composites -- Carbon nanotubes -- Carbon fibers -- Thermal properties -- Slide-ring material; Composite materials -- Periodicals; Composite materials; Fibrous composites; Periodicals; 620.118
• DOI: 10.1016/j.compscitech.2020.108009
• Languages: English
• ISSNs: 0266-3538

Abstract

Abstract: Thermally conductive flexible materials must be mechanically compatible with flexible electronic devices. They must have a low Young's modulus, high tensile strength, and toughness, in addition to a high thermal conductivity. These requirements have motivated researchers to develop composites of flexible rubber combined with a large amount of high thermally conductive carbon fibers/nanotubes. However, such composites become brittle because of the poor affinity between the rubber and carbon fibers/nanotube and local stress concentrations in the polymer matrix around the carbon fibers/nanotubes. Herein, to reduce this brittleness and achieve a high thermal conductivity, composite materials containing a slide-ring (SR) material and plasma-surface-modified carbon nanofiber (CNF)/carbon nanotube (CNT) aligned via the application of an electric field are described. The addition of a small amount of plasma-surface-modified CNTs to plasma-surface-modified CNF composites and the electric field alignment of these carbon materials produces a clear synergistic effect, facilitating an increase in the thermal conductivity. Furthermore, although this composite contains 45 wt% CNF and 5 wt% CNT, the toughness and tensile strength are no lower than in the case of raw SR. This composite material has a thermal conductivity similar to that of some metals, a low Young's modulus typical of elastomers, and a high tensile strength.