Abstract
A carbon fiber-reinforced polymer (CFRP) is a light and rigid composite applicable in various fields, such as in aviation and automobile industry. However, due to its low thermal conductivity, it does not dissipate heat sufficiently and thus accumulates heat stress. Here, we reported a facile and effective strategy to improve the through-thickness thermal conductivity of CFRP composites by using a layer-by-layer coating of inorganic crystals. They could provide efficient heat transfer pathways through layer-by-layer contact within the resulting composite material. The high thermally conductive CFRP composites were prepared by employing three types of inorganic crystal fillers composed of aluminum, magnesium, and copper on prepreg through the layer-by-layer coating process. The vertical thermal conductivity of pure CFRP was increased by up to 87% on using magnesium filler at a very low content of 0.01 wt %. It was also confirmed that the higher the thermal conductivity enhancement was, the better were the mechanical properties. Thus, we could demonstrate that the layer-by-layer inclusion of inorganic crystals can lead to improved through-thickness thermal conductivity and mechanical properties of composites, which might find applications in varied industrial fields.
Highlights
Carbon fiber-reinforced polymers (CFRPs) are lightweight continuous carbon fiber composite materials that show high strength [1,2,3]
We presented a simple and effective strategy for the fabrication of high thermally conductive CFRP composites that simultaneously ensure the excellent vertical thermal conductivity and mechanical strength using layer-by-layer inclusion of inorganic crystals
We fabricated thermally conductive CFRP composites with excellent vertical thermal conductivity and mechanical strength using a layer-by-layer coating of inorganic crystal fillers
Summary
Carbon fiber-reinforced polymers (CFRPs) are lightweight continuous carbon fiber composite materials that show high strength [1,2,3]. In addition to their excellent mechanical performance [4,5], they offer the potential to replace heavy metals because of their high corrosion resistance [6]. Such materials have been applied to a wide range of fields, ranging from the civil/military aviation space industry to the automobile industry, as well as in sports, where lightweight materials are essential [7,8,9,10,11,12]. In a continuous carbon fiber composite material, since the carbon fibers are aligned in the in-plane direction, the vertical thermal conductivity is much lower than
Sign-in/Register to view highlights & summary Talk to us
Join us for a 30 min session where you can share your feedback and ask us any queries you have
Schedule a callDisclaimer: All third-party content on this website/platform is and will remain the property of their respective owners and is provided on "as is" basis without any warranties, express or implied. Use of third-party content does not indicate any affiliation, sponsorship with or endorsement by them. Any references to third-party content is to identify the corresponding services and shall be considered fair use under The CopyrightLaw.
