Amino-functionalized nano-aluminum nitride (nano-AlN) particles were doped onto the surfaces of chlorinated multi-walled carbon nanotubes (MWCNTs) to act as fillers in thermally conducting composites. These synthesized materials were embedded in epoxy resin. Then, the untreated micro-aluminum nitride (micro-AlN) particles were added to this resin, whereby the composites filled with nano-AlN-doped MWCNTs (0, 0.5, 1, 1.5, 2 wt%) and micro-AlN (25.2, 44.1, 57.4 vol%) were fabricated. As a result, the thermal diffusivity and conductivity of all composites continuously improved with increasing nano-AlN-doped MWCNT content and micro-AlN filler loading. The thermal conductivity reached its maximum, which was 31.27 times that of the epoxy alone, when 2 wt% nano-AlN-doped MWCNTs and 57.4 vol% micro-AlN were added to the epoxy resin. This result is due to the high aspect ratio of the MWCNTs and the surface polarity of the doped nano-AlN and micro-AlN particles, resulting in the improved thermal properties of the epoxy composite.
scite is a Brooklyn-based organization that helps researchers better discover and understand research articles through Smart Citations–citations that display the context of the citation and describe whether the article provides supporting or contrasting evidence. scite is used by students and researchers from around the world and is funded in part by the National Science Foundation and the National Institute on Drug Abuse of the National Institutes of Health.