Thermal Conductivity Improvement of PEEK/ZrO2 Coated MWCNT Nanocomposites

Abstract

Since the landmark paper on carbon nanotubes (CNTs) by Iijima in 1991[1], carbon nanotubes have been an attractive materials for fundamental research studies and become one of the most important materials in the 21st century technology. Several applications were proposed for carbon nanotubes many of which are concerned with conductive or high strength composites [2,3], in which the inclusion of carbon nanotubes in a ceramic matrix is expected to produce composites possessing high stiffness and improved mechanical properties compared to the single phase ceramic material [4] and already been used as nano probes, gas storage containers, nanoelectronic devices, sensors, composite reinforcements, and integrated interconnection due to their extraordinary properties [5-8]. Currently, there has been widespread interest in the fabrication of one-dimensional nano scale materials by filling or coating CNT with various kinds of materials including metals (such as zirconium oxide, hafnium oxide, aluminum oxide, and conductive materials such as gold, copper, and platinum), non-metals, carbides, and oxides which possess distinctive chemical [9-13], mechanical, and physical properties [14-16]. Zirconia (ZrO2), especially in the powder form, is very attractive material applied in a wide variety of technological fields such as catalysts, oxygen sensors, fuel cells, optical devices, and electronic devices [17-20]. Several preparation methods have also been reported on the synthesis of ZrO2; including chemical vapor deposition, spray pyrolysis, ion sputtering, solgel, and chemical precipitation [21-24]. This mainly results from its excellent properties including thermal, chemical, and mechanical stability as well as unique optical and dielectric properties. Carbon nanotubes are widely used in composite materials because CNTs have excellent electrical and thermal properties [25-28], because, a change in structure and properties by diameter, bonding structure, rope structure of carbon nanotube. In contrast, the polymers typically ~ 0.2W/mK has low thermal conductivity. But the rapid development of the electronics industry to emit more heat and small electronic components can be used in polymer materials of high thermal conductivity is required. Temperature rises 10 oC has been reported lost half-life of electronic devices. Therefore, effectively it is important to release heat quickly from electronic components. To develop heat emission high polymer, if