Thermal conductivity of carbon-filled polypropylene-based resins

Document Type

Article

Publication Date

4-23-2010

Abstract

Varying amounts of three different carbons (carbon black, synthetic graphite particles, and carbon nanotubes) were added to polypropylene, and the resulting single-filler composites were tested for thermal conductivity using the nanoflash test method. In addition, the effects of single fillers and combinations of different carbon fillers were studied via a factorial design. Each single filler caused a statistically significant increase in through-plane thermal conductivity at the 95% confidence level, with synthetic graphite causing the largest increase, followed by carbon nanotubes, and then carbon black. The synthetic graphite/carbon nanotube formulations, followed by the carbon black/synthetic graphite formulations also caused a statistically significant increase in composite through-plane thermal conductivity. Composites containing 75 and 80wt% synthetic graphite in polypropylene had an in-plane thermal conductivity of 24 and 34W/m.K, respectively. This meets the thermal conductivity target of > 20W/m.K for fuel cell bipolar plates. © The Author(s), 2010.

Publication Title

Journal of Composite Materials

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