Vertically-aligned silicon nanowires (SiNWs) are investigated for their use as thermoelectric materials. Using a silver-induced electroless-etching method, SiNWs of varying lengths are prepared, which are expected to have lower thermal conductivities as compared to bulk silicon. A thermal constants analyzer is used to perform the thermal analysis of the SiNWs, and thermal conductivity values are reduced by up to 43%. Theoretical models are then used to explain the quantitative results obtained ...
Vapor-grown carbon nanofiber (VGCF) was functionalized by the covalent bonding of polylactide (PLA) in order to generate a composite known as PLA-g-VGCF. This is a multiple step process and does not produce the same composites as regular melt compounding (VGCF/PLA). This new composite was characterized by x-ray photoelectron spectroscopy, TGA and TEM in order to quantify and qualify the newly prepared composites, which showed 'remarkable improvement' over the melt ...
The authors noticed that thermal conductivity was difficult to measure from data recorded in the quasisteady state, which was determined to be caused by ignoring the thermocouple effects in earlier models. The authors then take these thermocouple effects into account and generate a new model for predicting thermal conductivities. Delrin and 304 stainless steel are quantitatively investigated....
Natural rubber/graphene (NR/GE) composites were prepared by ultrasonically-assisted latex mining and an in situ reduction process, followed by latex coagulation to obtain the masterbatch. It was determined that this method of preparing the NR/GE composites resulted in an increase in tensile strength when compared to conventional direct mixing. A variety of properties of the composites were investigated, including: thermal conductivity, thermal diffusivity, specific heat, maximum torque, crosslink ...
In order to improve the brittleness and shrinkage experienced by carbon aerogels during the drying process, carbon fibers were added to the aerogel. Supercritical drying was used in order to generate the aerogels, and a machine was used to measure the thermal conductivity of the synthesized aerogels. This new method resulted in crack-free carbon fiber reinforced aerogel composites and may lead to more applications for carbon aerogels....
