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RGO-Coated Polyurethane Foam/Segmented Polyurethane Composites as Solid-Solid Phase Change Thermal Interface Material
Cong Zhang1, Zhe Shi1, An Li1
1Department of Materials Science and Engineering, College of Engineering, Peking University, Beijing 100871, China.
Polymers
|December 19, 2020
Summary
Researchers developed a novel thermal interface material (TIM) using reduced graphene oxide-coated polyurethane foam. This advanced material significantly enhances heat transfer for effective thermal management.
Area of Science:
- Materials Science
- Polymer Chemistry
- Nanotechnology
Background:
- Thermal interface materials (TIMs) are essential for efficient heat dissipation from electronic components.
- Improving thermal conductivity and interfacial contact is critical for advanced thermal management solutions.
- Phase change materials offer unique thermal transport properties but require careful formulation.
Purpose of the Study:
- To develop a high-performance TIM with solid-solid phase change properties.
- To enhance both thermal conductivity and interfacial wettability of the TIM.
- To investigate the effect of reduced graphene oxide (rGO) on the properties of segmented polyurethane (SPU) composites.
Main Methods:
- Fabrication of rGO-coated foam (rGOF) via self-assembly.
- Synthesis of segmented polyurethane (SPU) through in situ polymerization.
- Preparation of rGOF/SPU composites for TIM applications.
Main Results:
- The synthesized pure SPU and rGOF/SPU composites demonstrated solid-solid phase change properties.
- Materials exhibited suitable phase change temperatures, high latent heat, and excellent wettability without leakage.
- rGOF/SPU composite showed a 63% increase in thermal conductivity compared to pure SPU at 0.8 wt.% rGO.
Conclusions:
- The developed rGOF/SPU composite functions effectively as a TIM with superior thermal performance.
- The material shows significant potential for advanced thermal management applications.
- Incorporating rGO into SPU foam is a promising strategy for enhancing TIM properties.
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