Highly enhanced thermal conductivity of thermoplastic nanocomposites with a low mass fraction of MWCNTs by a facilitated latex approach

The construction of a three-dimensional (3D) compactly interconnected carbon nanotube (CNT) network could offer a substantial increase in the thermal conductivity of the polymeric nanocomposite. In order to achieve desirable 3D conductive architectures in the polymeric matrix, a facilitated latex technique was employed to coat multi-walled CNT (MWCNT) onto micro-sized polymeric powders. The microstructure and rheological characterization study were conducted to evaluate the internal distribution of MWCNTs within the polymeric matrices. The crystallinity of the polymer, the kinetics of crystallization, and the influence of surface functionalization on thermal conductivity were also investigated. The selected steroid-based surfactant (sodium cholate) could improve the interfacial coupling of CNT-CNT and CNT-polymer to reduce the interfacial thermal resistances. Meanwhile, the 3D architecture of MWCNTs could provide a phonon transport pathway and accelerate the recrystallization process of semi-crystalline polymers. MWCNTs and the surfactant had a synergic effect on the enhancement of thermal conductivity of the nanocomposites.