Enhancing the Thermo-Mechanical Property of Polymer by Weaving and Mixing High Length–Diameter Ratio Filler

Polymers

Yunmin Liang¹  Bo Zhang¹  Wei Liu¹  Biwei Liu¹  Zhichun Liu¹ 

[1] School of Energy and Power Engineering, Huazhong University of Science and Technology (HUST), Wuhan 430074, China;

关键词: thermo-mechanical property;    polymer morphology;    phonons;    molecular dynamics simulation;    weaving;    mixing;   

DOI  :  10.3390/polym12061255

来源: DOAJ

【 摘 要 】

Improving thermo-mechanical characteristics of polymers can efficiently promote their applications in heat exchangers and thermal management. However, a feasible way to enhance the thermo-mechanical property of bulk polymers at low filler content still remains to be explored. Here, we propose mixing high length-diameter ratio filler such as carbon nanotube (CNT), boron nitride (BN) nanotube, and copper (Cu) nanowire, in the woven polymer matrix to meet the purpose. Through molecular dynamics (MD) simulation, the thermal properties of three woven polymers including woven polyethylene (PE), woven poly (p-phenylene) (PPP), and woven polyacetylene (PA) are investigated. Besides, using woven PE as a polymer matrix, three polymer nanocomposites, namely PE-CNT, PE-BN, and PE-Cu, are constructed by mixing CNT, BN nanotube, and Cu nanowire respectively, whose thermo-mechanical characteristics are compared via MD simulation. Morphology and phonons spectra analysis are conducted to reveal the underlying mechanisms. Furthermore, impacts of electron-phonon coupling and electrical field on the thermal conductivity of PE-Cu are uncovered via two temperature model MD simulation. Classical theoretical models are modified to predict the effects of filler and matrix on the thermal conductivity of polymer nanocomposites. This work can provide useful guidelines for designing thermally conductive bulk polymers and polymer nanocomposites.

【 授权许可】

Unknown