Aluminum hydroxide–CNT hybrid material for synergizing the thermal conductivity of alumina sphere/thermoplastic polyurethane composite with minimal increase of electrical conductivity

Multi-walled carbon nanotube (CNT) was hybridized with aluminum hydroxide utilizing aluminum trichloride hexahydrate as a precursor to prepare a filler that can be utilized for a thermally conductive yet electrically insulative polymer composite. The thermal conductivity of an alumina sphere/thermoplastic polyurethane (TPU) mixture (100 parts) was enhanced 2 to 3-fold when 5 parts of this hybrid material (Al–CNT hybrid) was added as a synergizer for thermal conduction. This enhancement was better than that by CNT. Moreover, the electrical conductivity increase due to the added Al–CNT hybrid was marginal, whereas the increase was striking when CNT itself was added instead.

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