Abstract
To investigate the effect of continuous multi-walled carbon nanotubes (MWCNTs) on the thermal and mechanical properties of composites, we propose a fabrication method for a buckypaper-filled flexible composite film prepared by a two-step process involving buckypaper fabrication using vacuum filtration of MWCNTs, and composite film fabrication using the dipping method. The thermal conductivity and tensile strength of the composite film filled with the buckypaper exhibited improved results, respectively 76% and 275% greater than those of the individual MWCNT-filled composite film. It was confirmed that forming continuous MWCNT fillers is an important factor which determines the physical characteristics of the composite film. In light of the study findings, composite films using buckypaper as a filler and polydimethylsiloxane (PDMS) as a flexible matrix have sufficient potential to be applied as a heat-dissipating material, and as a flexible film with high thermal conductivity and excellent mechanical properties.
Highlights
Since the first discovery of carbon nanotubes (CNTs) nearly two decades ago by Iijima [1], their excellent electrical, thermal and mechanical properties have been widely reported [1,2,3,4,5]
Various buckypapers were produced by the vacuum filtration as shown in Figure 1 in order to investigate the effect of the multi-walled carbon nanotubes (MWCNTs) lengths, the MWCNT contents in suspension, sonication time, types of dispersion medium
We proposed a fabrication method for buckypaper-filled flexible composite film with excellent thermal and mechanical properties which was prepared by a two-step process involving buckypaper fabrication using vacuum filtration of MWCNTs and composite film fabrication using the dipping method
Summary
Since the first discovery of carbon nanotubes (CNTs) nearly two decades ago by Iijima [1], their excellent electrical, thermal and mechanical properties have been widely reported [1,2,3,4,5]. CNTs have been demonstrated to be nanomaterials with high thermal conductivity of 1950–5000 W/m·K at room temperature [1,6]. When typical methods of fabricating composites filled with CNTs are used, it has proven difficult to obtain the expected physical properties because of the non-uniform dispersion of the CNTs. when typical methods of fabricating composites filled with CNTs are used, it has proven difficult to obtain the expected physical properties because of the non-uniform dispersion of the CNTs This poor dispersion results from CNT agglomeration due to strong van der Waals forces and the extra-large surface areas of the CNTs. As methods to overcome the problem, various studies have investigated chemically modifying the CNT interface [7,8], or using continuous CNT fibers (yarns) [9,10,11] or CNT films (mats, known as buckypapers) [1,12,13]. Buckypaper is known for its outstanding electrical conductivity of 104–107 S/m [14,15], thermal conductivity of 83 W/m·K [16] and mechanical modulus of 0.6–4.2 GPa [17]. As shcoowntninuinouFsigMuWreC1N, Ta btwucok-yspteappepr roonctehses tihnevrmolavlinangdbmuecckhyapnaicpael rpprorpeepratireastoiofncovmiapolosiwte-fciolmsts.vAascuum filtratsihoonwanndincoFimguproesi1t,eafiltmwof-astberpicpatrioocnesbsaisnevdolovnintghebudcikpyppianpgermpertehpoadraitsiopnrovpiaosloewd.-cCoostmvpaocusiutme films filledffwiillltiertadhtiwothnitehainntdhdecivoinmiddpiuvoaisdlituMeafWlilMmCWNfaCTbNsr,icTaasnt,idoannwdbiawthseitidhnofiinnltfirtlhatretaedtdeipdMpMiWnWgCmCNNeTtThbobuduccikskyyppproaapppoeesrr,e, dww.eeCrreoemffaapbborrisciicateatetfedildmbbysy the propothseedprporpoocseesds.prWoceesesv.aWlueaetvedaluthateedthtehremthaelramnadl amndecmhaenchicaanlicparl opproeprteiretsieos fotfhtheecocommppoossiittee ffiillmmss and invesatingdaitnevdesthtigeastterdutchteusrter-upcrtuorpee-prtryopreerltaytiroenlasthioinpshreipsureltsiunlgtinfgrofrmomfofromrmininggtthhee ccoonnttiinnuuoouus sMMWWCNCTNs.Ts
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