Researchers in this study aimed to develop polymer composites with high thermal conductivity, using polystyrene (PS) and multi-walled carbon nanotubes (MWNTs). These composites were prepared by ultrasonic radiation, through a simple-solution-evaporation method. Poly(styrene-co-maleic anhydride) (PSMA), with a benzene group and experiencing a strong affinity for PS was used as a base, to allow the MWNTs to be dispersed within the composite (MWNT-g-SMA). Results determined that the addition of MWNTs ...
This study looks at the effects of pH on heat transfer, among other things, of nanofluids. Over 20% enhancement of thermal conductivity was noted with nanofluids containing 3wt% zirconium dioxide and titanium dioxide. Also noted, was the influence of pH on the stability of the nanofluids. The Derjaguin-Landau-Verwey-Overbeek theory states that nanoparticles become unstable, form clusters and precipitate, when their pH is near the isoelectric point. This leads to large clusters ...
In this paper, researchers synthesized monodispersed polystyrene spheres (PS), of a desired size. Generally, PS have a typical diameter ranging from 180 nm to 900 nm. However, the researchers in this study were able to reduce the sphere size, by increasing the polyvinylpyrolidone/styrene weight ratio. The PS were used as models, in order to fabricate hollow silica nanospheres (HSNSs), for thermal insulation applications. With modifications to this silica coating process, HSNSs ...
The turn of the evolution in plastics came with the development of fiber reinforcements. With the introduction of reinforcement fibers to a base resin, the mechanical properties are improved drastically, allowing for the product to be implemented in a wide range of applications. These materials were discovered to have half the weight of their metal counterparts and a tensile strength that is more than doubled. Fibers within the system are ...
In the electronic industry, manufacturers depend on accurate thermal conductivity testing methods to characterize their new products, and perform quality control maintenance on continuing materials. This paper assesses the ability of the Transient Plane Source (TPS) technique to accurately characterize newly developed materials, for their use in novel electronic applications. Using the TPS technique, various silicone based electronic materials, of differing filler contents, were thermally characterized and examined for their ...
