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Polyoxymethylene (POM) is a resistant polymer with wide applications in aerospace, automotives, and biomedicine. However, it falls short when used in the manufacturing of sliding parts. In this study, copper particles and polytetrafluoroethylene (PTFE) powder were incorporated into POM to improve the thermal conductivity of the polymer composite while reducing the friction coefficient. A thermal analyzer was used to measure the thermal conductivity of POM composites using the transient plane source (TPS) method. Results showed that the copper particles increased the thermal conductivity of the polymer composite, but the PTFE powder had no effect.
In this paper, natural rubber (NR)/graphene (GE) composites were prepared using an ultrasonically-assisted latex mixing and in situ reduction (ULMR) process. A thermal constants analyzer measured the thermal conductivity of the NR/GE composites using the transient plane source (TPS) method. Results showed that GE had a good thermal conductivity, and can be used as a thermal conductivity enhancer in polymers.
The authors have developed a method for the functionalization of single-walled carbon nanotubes (SWCNTs). The functionalization of the SWCNTs is useful in helping to produce a better dispersion of nanotubes throughout a polymer matrix. Better dispersion of nanotubes was thought to result in an improvement in the mechanical, electrical, and thermal properties of nanocomposite polymers. It was determined that the method produced effective surface modification of the nanotubes. The elastic modulus and thermal conductivities of the nanocomposites seemed to be unaffected by the functionalization of the SWCNTs; however, the flexural strength of the nanocomposites was reduced.
The authors prepared silica aerogel/polyurethane composites by two different methods for the comparison of the two methods. The objective was to study the thermal insulation and hydrophobic properties of the composites to evaluate their potential for use as fabric membranes. It was found that the composites are better thermal insulators than polyurethane alone, and that they also have improved hydrophobic properties. It was also determined that the thermal conductivities for the composites were different depending on the method that was used to produce them.
Various microfibrillar composites were prepared in situ using boron nitride as a thermally conductive filler. The multistage stretching extrusion process was used in an effort to improve thermal conductivity and mechanical properties. It was found that the addition of laminating-multiplying elements (LMEs) improved the dispersion of BN in the composite polymers and they also improved the tensile and impact strength of the polymers. It was also found that the thermal conductivity was increased when this method was used and that the thermal conductivity could be calculated based on filler and LME content by modifying a previously determined equation.
