MWCNTs-GNPs Reinforced TPU Composites with Thermal and Electrical Conductivity: Low-Temperature Controlled DIW Forming

Abstract

As an effective technique for fabricating conductive and thermally conductive polymer composites, a multi-filler system incorporates different types and sizes of multiple fillers to form interconnected networks with improved electrical, thermal, and processing properties. In this study, DIW forming of bifunctional composites was achieved by controlling the temperature of the printing platform. The study was based on enhancing the thermal and electrical transport properties of hybrid ternary polymer nanocomposites with multi-walled carbon nanotubes (MWCNTs) and graphene nanoplates (GNPs). With thermoplastic polyurethane (TPU) used as the matrix, the addition of MWCNTs, GNPs and both mixtures further improved the thermal conductivity of the elastomers. By adjusting the weight fraction of the functional fillers (MWCNTs and GNPs), the thermal and electrical properties were gradually explored. Here, the thermal conductivity of the polymer composites increased nearly sevenfold (from 0.36 W·m−1·k−1 to 2.87 W·m−1·k−1) and the electrical conductivity increased up to 5.49 × 10−2 S·m−1. It is expected to be used in the field of electronic packaging and environmental thermal dissipation, especially for modern electronic industrial equipment.