Thermal properties and percolation in carbon nanotube-polymer composites
Abstract
Thermal properties of single walled carbon nanotube (SWNT)/polymethylmetacrylate composite thick films have been investigated at room temperature. The introduction of ∼7% SWNT into the polymer matrix enhances the thermal conductivity of the composite by 55% while the electrical conductivity increases by several orders of magnitude. Despite this difference, we show that the (moderate) enhancement of the thermal conductivity is quantified by the percolation of the SWNT network. A thermal conductivity of the SWNT network of ∼55W/mK is estimated.
- Publication:
-
Applied Physics Letters
- Pub Date:
- November 2007
- DOI:
- 10.1063/1.2813625
- Bibcode:
- 2007ApPhL..91t1910B
- Keywords:
-
- 65.80.+n;
- 81.07.De;
- 73.22.-f;
- 73.61.Ph;
- Thermal properties of small particles nanocrystals and nanotubes;
- Nanotubes;
- Electronic structure of nanoscale materials: clusters nanoparticles nanotubes and nanocrystals;
- Polymers;
- organic compounds