Key Factors that Affect Thermal Conductivity
The most common approach to improve polymer thermal conductivity is to add thermally conducting fillers. For applications where electrical insulation is required, electrically insulating fillers such as ceramics are the most common additives. Many factors can contribute to the thermal conductivity of a filled polymer.
- At the resin level, polymer matrix crystallinity and backbone architecture may affect thermal conductivity though this effect is small in our materials.
- The intrinsic thermal conductivity of the additive is a primary driver of formulation TC but not the only factor.
- Dispersion of filler
Thermal Conductivity of Common Polymer Resins
Taken from Chen, Du, Ginzburg, Progress in Polymer Science, 2006
Overview of TC Polymer Physics Project
- Effect of particle orientation on through-plane thermal conductivity
- Mixtures of low and high thermal conductivity fillers
- Surface modification of thermally conducting fillers
- Polymer functionalization