Thermally conductive and compliant polyurethane elastomer composites by constructing a tri-branched polymer network

Area of Science:

• Materials Science
• Polymer Chemistry
• Nanotechnology

Background:

• Elastomers typically exhibit poor thermal conductivity, hindering their use in electronics.
• Enhancing elastomer thermal conductivity often compromises their mechanical compliance.
• A need exists for materials balancing thermal and mechanical properties for advanced applications.

Purpose of the Study:

• To develop thermally conductive and compliant polyurethane elastomer composites.
• To investigate a novel tri-branched polymer network structure for improved properties.
• To explore applications in thermal management for flexible electronics.

Main Methods:

• Synthesis of polyurethane elastomer composites with a tri-branched polymer network.
• Characterization of thermal conductivity, stretchability, and Young's modulus.
• Utilizing experimental rheology and a theoretical tube model to analyze the polymer network.

Main Results:

• Achieved superhigh stretchability (2000%) and low Young's modulus (640 kPa).
• Demonstrated low thermal resistance (0.11 K cm² W⁻¹).
• Confirmed the effectiveness of the tri-branched network in enhancing both thermal and mechanical properties.

Conclusions:

• The tri-branched polymer network effectively creates thermally conductive and highly compliant elastomer composites.
• These materials show promise as thermal interface materials for flexible electronics.
• The study provides insights into designing polymer frameworks for advanced thermal composites.