Raw multi-walled carbon nanotubes (r-MWCNTs) and Cu nanoparticles are dispersed in an epoxy matrix in varying quantities to create composite polymers with enhanced thermal conductivities. A study was then conducted to determine if the boundary thermal contact resistance could be reduced by increasing the thermal conductivity. The boundary thermal contact resistance was found to be approximately constant across all samples containing the copper nanoparticles. The boundary thermal contact resistance was ...
An investigation into the thermal properties of infiltrated and non-infiltrated copper windings was performed. Of particular interest was the radial thermal conductivity. The thermal conductivity measurements were performed, and the anisotropic testing module. The results of the testing were then compared to calculated values obtained by finite element modelling, as well as by a homogenization relation proposed by Hashin and Shtrikman. It was determined that there was a significant difference ...
Nanoparticle suspensions were prepared in two PCMs to determine the effect of the addition of nanoparticles on thermal conductivity and expediting freezing. The base PCMs used were cyclohexane and eicosane, and copper oxide nanoparticles were suspended in these hydrocarbons to produce nano-enhanced PCMs (nePCMs). The enhancement of thermal conductivity and expedited freezing were investigated by analytic, experimental, and numerical methods. The thermal conductivity in the liquid phase was significantly enhanced ...
Zr-Cu-Al metallic glasses were formulated with differing compositions to determine their thermophysical properties. It was determined that by decreasing the zirconium content of the metallic glass, the thermal conductivity can be increased. The maximum value of thermal conductivity was found for the metallic glass with a composition of Zr:Cu:Al = 50:39.3:10.7 (at. %). It was found that although the metallic glasses did not crystallize with heat treatment below Tg, they did ...
The authors present a method of producing Cu2CdSnSe4 quaternary nanocrystals using a colloidal synthesis route that could be used for future industrial synthesis. The nanocrystals prepared showed great potential for use as a thermoelectric material due to their high thermoelectric figure of merit (up to 0.71) resulting from a high electrical conductivity and low thermal conductivity. The authors believed that these properties could be further tuned in order to increase ...
