Evaluation of Effective Thermal Conductivity of Multiwalled Carbon Nanotube Reinforced Polymer Composites Using Finite Element Method and Continuum Model

Abstract

Carbon nanotubes (CNTs) are allotrope of carbon having a cylindrical structure. They have remarkable mechanical, thermal and electrical properties. The properties of CNTs depend on how the flat sheets of graphene are rolled up (atomic arrangement), diameter and length of nanotubes and morphology of nanostructure. In this paper effective thermal conductivity of Multiwalled Carbon nanotube (MWCNT) based polymer composites are evaluated using a square Representative Volume Element (RVE) in Finite Element Method (FEM). COMSOL Multiphysics 4.2 has been used for making the models and doing the simulations. Effective thermal conductivity of a single MWCNT based polymer composites are evaluated analytically and validated by simulation technique. Continuum model developed by Bagchi A. and Nomura, S. has been used to calculate theoretical conductivity of single MWCNT based polymer composite. Mathematica® code has been written for theoretical calculation of thermal conductivity. The effect of varying CNT diameter, length, volume fraction and thermal contact conductance on effective thermal conductivity of MWCNT reinforced composites is estimated and analyzed.