3D Printable concentrated liquid metal composite with high thermal conductivity

Area of Science:

• Materials Science
• Polymer Science
• Nanotechnology

Background:

• Traditional heat dissipation materials face a trade-off between thermal conductivity (k) and processability.
• Achieving high k often requires high filler concentrations, hindering material processing.

Purpose of the Study:

• To overcome the thermal conductivity-processability trade-off in heat dissipation materials.
• To develop novel composites utilizing liquid metal (LM) for enhanced thermal management.

Main Methods:

• Fabrication of heat dissipation composites with varying concentrations of liquid metal (LM) dispersed in a polymer matrix.
• Incorporation of hexagonal boron nitride (h-BN) to further enhance thermal conductivity.
• Evaluation of thermal conductivity (k) and processability, including suitability for 3D printing.

Main Results:

• A 90 vol% LM composite demonstrated a tenfold increase in k compared to a 50 vol% LM composite.
• Introducing h-BN between LM droplets resulted in the highest recorded k of 17.1 W m⁻¹ K⁻¹.
• The developed LM composite exhibits excellent processability at room temperature, suitable for 3D printing inks.

Conclusions:

• The novel LM-based composites successfully overcome the conventional trade-off, offering both high thermal conductivity and excellent processability.
• The materials enable on-demand fabrication of heat dissipation solutions under ambient conditions.
• Increased surface area in the LM composite facilitates rapid heat dissipation, crucial for advanced thermal management.