The effect of the prismatic filler arrangement and cross-sectional shape on the thermal conductivity of polymer composites

作者：Wang X J^*

来源：Express Polymer Letters, 2014, 8(12): 920-931.

DOI：10.3144/expresspolymlett.2014.93

• polymer composites
• thermal conductivity
• directional arrangement
• close-packed arrangement
• filler shapes

Incorporation of fillers with high thermal conductivity to base materials has been recognized as an efficient way to increase the thermal conductivity of composite materials. In this study, the effects of the prismatic filler arrangement and cross-sectional shape on the thermal conductivity of the composites were investigated. This research addresses these problems by solving the heterogeneous two-dimensional heat conduction problem in the composite materials. A validated commercial software-FLUENT and finite volume method was used in the analysis. The close-packed, directional and random filler arrangements were considered. It was found that the prismatic filler arrangement and cross-sectional shape have great impacts on the thermal conductivity of the composite materials. Double Y shaped, I shaped, T shaped, elliptical, rhombic and rectangular cross-sectional fillers can greatly increase the thermal conductivity only in directional arrangement. The effects of circular, square, triangular and Y shaped cross-sectional are similar in directional and random arrangements. The close-packed arrangements for all cross-sectional shapes have small thermal conductivity. The double Y shaped, Y shaped and I shaped cross-sectional were found to be the best choice for composite materials regardless of the filler arrangements.

• 出版日期2014-12
• 单位兰州交通大学