Predicting the thermal conductivity of multiple carbon fillers in polypropylene-based resins

Abstract

In this research, three different carbon fillers (Thermocarb TC-300 synthetic graphite, Ketjenblack EC-600 JD carbon black and Hyperion Catalysis International’s FIBRIL TM carbon nanotubes) are added to a polypropylene matrix to produce single and multiple filler composites with filler concentrations of up to 80 wt% synthetic graphite, 15 wt% carbon black, and 15 wt% carbon nanotubes. The through-plane and in-plane thermal conductivities are measured for these formulations and compared favorably with predictions from the Nielsen thermal conductivity model. Good results are obtained from an empirical in-plane thermal conductivity model for all single filler composites and one multiple filler composite.