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CdS nanoparticles were dispersed in varying quantities into a PVC matrix and the effective thermal conductivities of the produced nanocomposites were investigated at temperatures from 25 to 110C. It was determined that the dispersion of the nanoparticles in PVC caused an increase in thermal conductivity up to 2 wt. % filler concentration when compared to that of pure PVC. When more than 2 wt. % of filler was added to the PVC matrix, the thermal conductivity began to decrease, and the sample containing 8 wt. % CdS nanoparticles was found to have an effective thermal conductivity that was lower than that of pure PVC. Temperature was also found to have an effect on the thermal conductivity. Conductivity was found to increase in all samples until the temperature reached the glass transition temperature. Past this point, the thermal conductivity of each sample became almost constant as temperature increased.
The thermal and mechanical properties of PS/PMMA immiscible polymer blends were investigated. The effects of the dispersion of CdS nanoparticles on these properties were also investigated. The dispersion of the nanoparticles was found to result in an increase in glass transition temperature, as well as the thermal conductivity. The PS matrix was found to become more brittle and the PMMA matrix was found to become more compact upon the dispersion of the CdS nanoparticles.
A chalcogenide glass was prepared and doped with carbon nanotubes (CNTs) in an effort to increase the electrical and thermal conductivity of the glass. The glass that was used in this study was Se85Te10Ag5 which was prepared by melt-quenched method. CNTs were added to the glass at 3 and 5 wt. % and the properties of the composite glasses were compared with those of the pure chalcogenide glass. It was found that doping of Se85Te10Ag5 glass with CNTs increased the electrical and thermal conductivities, as well as the microhardness in comparison with pure Se85Te10Ag5 glass.
The effective thermal conductivity and thermal diffusivity of polymer composites consisting of phenolformaldehyde matrix and oil palm empty fruit bunch (OPEFB) fibers were determined using the transient plane source method. The polymer composites were treated with one of alkali, silanol, or acetic acid to determine the effects of each treatment on the thermo-physical properties of the composites. The effect of temperature on these properties was also evaluated. It was determined that the effective thermal conductivity and thermal diffusivity of each sample reached a maximum at a temperature close to the glass transition temperature of the composite. The thermo-physical properties were also different depending on what treatment was used on the sample.
