Thermal Conductance of Epoxy/Alumina Interfaces

The interfacial thermal conductance (ITC) between filler and polymer matrix is considered as one of the important factors that limits the thermal conductivity of thermally conductive polymer composites. The effect of two different surface treatments (piranha solution and plasma) on ITC of epoxy/alumina was investigated using Time-domain thermoreflectance method (TDTR). The TDTR results show that compared with non-treated samples, the ITC of samples treated by piranha solution and plasma increased 2.9 times and 3.4 times, respectively. This study provides guidance for improving the thermal conductivity of thermally conductive polymer composites.

The Influence of Compounding Parameters on the Electrical Conductivity of LDPE/Cu Conductive Polymer Composites (CPCs)

Low-linear density (LDPE) and copper (Cu) were used as main polymer matrix and conductive filler in order to produce electrically conductive polymer composites (CPC). The selection of the matrix and conductive filler were based on their due to its excellence properties, resistance to corrosion, low cost and electrically conductive. This research works is aimed to establish the effect of compounding parameter on the electrical conductivity of LDPE/Cu composites utilising the design of experiments (DOE). The CPCs was compounded using an internal mixer where all formulations were designed by statistical software. The scanning electron micrograph (SEM) revealed that the Cu conductive filler had a flake-like shape, and the electrical conductivity was found to be increased with increasing filler loading as measured using the four-point probe technique. The conductivity data obtained were then analysed by using the statistical software to establish the relationship between the compounding parameters and electrical conductivity where it was found based that the compounding parameters have had an effect on the conductivity of the CPC.