Thermal Effect of CNT Functionalization in PDMS/CNT Thin Film Composite
Class
Article
Department
Mechanical and Aerospace Engineering
Faculty Mentor
Nick Roberts
Presentation Type
Poster Presentation
Abstract
Carbon nanotubes (CNTs) exhibit extraordinary mechanical and thermal properties and as such have become the subject of large research interest. One such area of interest is in using CNTs to enhance the mechanical or thermal properties of other materials by creating a composite material. However, recent research has shown that the functionalization process that the CNTs undergo prior to being added to other materials may have an impact on the overall mechanical and thermal properties of the composite material. This particular study looks at the effect that CNT functionalization has on the thermal conductivity of a polydimethylsiloxane (PDMS) thin film with embedded, randomly oriented, multi-walled carbon nanotubes (MWCNTs). Three different groups of functionalized MWCNTs were examined in this study: unfunctionalized, functionlized with -OH, and functionalized with -COOH. The fabrication process is presented along with results from multiple characterization techniques including the measurement of the effective composite thermal conductivity with comparisons to current thermal conductivity models for composite materials.
Start Date
4-9-2015 3:00 PM
Thermal Effect of CNT Functionalization in PDMS/CNT Thin Film Composite
Carbon nanotubes (CNTs) exhibit extraordinary mechanical and thermal properties and as such have become the subject of large research interest. One such area of interest is in using CNTs to enhance the mechanical or thermal properties of other materials by creating a composite material. However, recent research has shown that the functionalization process that the CNTs undergo prior to being added to other materials may have an impact on the overall mechanical and thermal properties of the composite material. This particular study looks at the effect that CNT functionalization has on the thermal conductivity of a polydimethylsiloxane (PDMS) thin film with embedded, randomly oriented, multi-walled carbon nanotubes (MWCNTs). Three different groups of functionalized MWCNTs were examined in this study: unfunctionalized, functionlized with -OH, and functionalized with -COOH. The fabrication process is presented along with results from multiple characterization techniques including the measurement of the effective composite thermal conductivity with comparisons to current thermal conductivity models for composite materials.