Thermal Conductivity of Nanoparticles Filled Polymer Nanocomposites: Review

Thermally conductive polymer nanocomposites offer new possibilities for replacing metal parts in several applications, including power electronics, electric motors and heat exchangers etc., thanks to the polymer advantages such as high strength to weight ratio, corrosion resistance and ease of processing. Current interest to improve the thermal conductivity of polymers is focused on the selective addition of nanofillers with high thermal conductivity. This article is intended to review the status of worldwide research in the thermal conductivity of various nanoparticles and their polymer nanocomposites. The dependence of thermal conductivity of polymer nanocomposite on the atomic structure, surface area, the morphology, the defect and the purification of nanofillers are reviewed. The roles of particle/polymer and particle/particle interfaces on the thermal conductivity of polymer nanocomposites are discussed with the help of modelling in details, as well as the relationship between the thermal conductivity and structure of the composites.