Preparation and Characterization of Thermal Conductive Composite Membranes of Aligned Esterified Carbon Nanotubes/Poly(vinylidene fluoride)

Abstract

Esterified carbon nanotubes (MWCNT-COOC16H33) were prepared. Composite membranes were fabricated. An alternating current (AC) electric field was applied to the membrane structure orientation. The structures and properties of composite membranes were investigated. The fillers induced the β phase of PVDF; the electric field further enhanced the β phase and made more orderly structures. The fillers arranged along with the electric field and formed a thermal channel. The thermal conductivities of composite membranes were improved by MWCNT-COOC16H33. When the MWCNT-COOC16H33 content reached 5%, the thermal conductivity of composite membrane was 56.05% higher than pure PVDF and even 57.18% higher after alignment.