Effects of graphene concentration, relative density and cellular morphology on the thermal conductivity of polycarbonate–graphene nanocomposite foams

The thermal conductivity of polycarbonate–graphene nanocomposite foams was studied as a function of relative density, developed cellular structure and graphene concentration. Two types of supercritical CO2 foaming processes were employed to obtain foams with a wide range of relative densities and ce...

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Detalles Bibliográficos
Autores: Gedler, Gabriel|||0000-0002-9491-7148, Antunes, Marcelo de Sousa Pais|||0000-0001-5911-1969, Velasco Perero, José Ignacio|||0000-0003-0331-5270, Ozisik, Rahmi
Tipo de recurso: artículo
Fecha de publicación:2016
País:España
Institución:Universitat Politècnica de Catalunya (UPC)
Repositorio:UPCommons. Portal del coneixement obert de la UPC
Idioma:inglés
OAI Identifier:oai:upcommons.upc.edu:2117/81477
Acceso en línea:https://hdl.handle.net/2117/81477
https://dx.doi.org/10.1016/j.eurpolymj.2015.12.018
Access Level:acceso abierto
Palabra clave:Foamed materials--Testing
Nanocomposites (Materials)
Composite materials--Testing
Composite materials--Thermal properties
Thermal conductivity
Polycarbonate
Graphene
Nanocomposite foams
Nanocompòsits (Materials) -- Propietats tèrmiques
Materials compostos -- Propietats tèrmiques
Materials compostos -- Proves
Materials escumosos -- Proves
Àrees temàtiques de la UPC::Enginyeria dels materials::Assaig de materials
Descripción
Sumario:The thermal conductivity of polycarbonate–graphene nanocomposite foams was studied as a function of relative density, developed cellular structure and graphene concentration. Two types of supercritical CO2 foaming processes were employed to obtain foams with a wide range of relative densities and cellular morphologies. The thermal conductivity of unfoamed nanocomposites increased in more than two times upon addition of 5 wt% graphene. Foaming led to lowered thermal conductivity values, as low as 0.03 W/(m K), with thermal conductivity being mainly controlled by relative density and in a lower extent by graphene concentration. Higher thermal conductivities were obtained with increasing relative density and cell size, as well as with increasing graphene concentration, especially in those cases where improved graphene dispersion was achieved with foaming. Thermal conductivity values displayed a better fit when using a three-phase model when compared to the two-phase model previously proposed for polymer composite foams.