Finite element analysis for prediction of thermal conductivity of composites with high packing ratios of particles using representative volume element models

Abstract

Polymer composites with high thermal conductivity offer new possibilities for thermal management in electric systems. The objective this paper is to develop the prediction method of the thermal conductivity of polymer composites with high packing ratios of fillers. Fillers were spherical alumina and boron nitride with platelet shape. Measurements of thermal conductivity of polymer composites using steady state method and finite element analysis for thermal conductivity using representative volume element (RVE) models of polymer composites were carried out. The analytical thermal conductivity of multi-scale RVE models increased with increasing homogenization numbers and volume fraction alumina. When contacts between fillers were considered in RVE models, the finite element analysis results and experimental results were in good agreement.