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Two-phase Hybrid Thermal Interface Alkali-treated E-Glass Fiber/MWCNT/Graphene/Copper Oxide Nanocomposites for
Swaminathan Ramu1, Natarajan Senthilkumar1, Balakrishnan Deepanraj2
1Saveetha School of Engineering, Saveetha Institute of Medical and Technical Sciences, Chennai, Tamil Nadu, 602105, India.
Introduction:
Two-phase hybrid mode thermal interface materials were created and characterized for mechanical properties, thermal conductivity, and wear behaviour. Therefore, the ultimate goal of this current research was to use alkali-treated glass fibre and other allotropes to produce high-performance two-phase thermal interface materials that can be patented for engineering applications.
Methods:
Three different polymer composites were prepared to contain 20 vol.% alkalies (NaOH) treated e-glass fibre (E) and epoxy as a matrix with varying proportions of multi-walled carbon nanotube (MWCNT), graphene (G), copper oxide (C). The one-phase material contained epoxy+20%e-glass+1%MWCNT (EMGC1), the two-phase hybrid composite contained epoxy+20%e-glass+1%MWCNT+1%graphene+1%CuO (EMGC2), and two-phase material contained epoxy+20%e-glass+1%graphene+1%CuO (EMGC3). Vacuum bagging method was used for fabricating the composites.
Results:
The higher thermal conductivity observed was 0.3466 W/mK for EMGC2, the alkalitreated glass fibre/hybrid mode nanofillers epoxy matrix composite was mechanically tougher than the other two composites (EMGC1 & EMGC3). Scanning electron microscopy analysis revealed the fine filler dispersion and homogenous interaction with the glass fibre/epoxy resin composite of the upper and lower zone, which also revealed the defective zone, fibre elongation, fibre/filler breakages, and filler leached surfaces.
Conclusion:
Finally, it was concluded that the hybrid mode two-phased structure EMGC2 epoxy matrix composite replicated the maximum thermal conductivity, mechanical properties, and wear properties of the other two specimens.
