Strategy for Constructing Epoxy Composites with High Effective Thermal Conductive Capability Based on Three-Dimensional Cellulose and Multiwalled Carbon Nanotube Network

High effective thermal management materials have becomea crucialfactor for the reliability and lifetime of devices. Herein, epoxyresin (EP) composites with superior thermal conductive efficiencywere fabricated via the homogeneous dispersion of carboxylated multiwalledcarbon nanotubes (CMWCNTs) in cellulose nanofiber (CNF) aerogels,and then the EP precursors were impregnated and cured. The thermalconductivity of EP/CNF/CMWCNT thermosets containing only 0.65 wt %CMWCNTs increased from 0.19 W & BULL;m(-1)& BULL;k(-1) for pristine EP to 0.93 W & BULL;m(-1)& BULL;k(-1) and increased by 389.5%. As a result,the composites presented excellent heat absorption and dissipationperformance, which are demonstrated by the infrared thermal cameratests. Besides, the composites showed highly electric insulating performance,and its volume electrical resistivity was as high as 6.48 x 10(15) & omega;& BULL;cm(-1) due to the low contentof CMWCNTs in thermosets. The glass-transition temperature of EP/CNF/CMWCNTcomposites increased from 132.6 & DEG;C for neat EP thermosets to153.3 & DEG;C, as indicated by the dynamic mechanical analysis. Moreover,thermal mechanical analysis demonstrated that the resultant EP compositespossessed excellent dimensional stability. The obtained EP/CNF/CMWCNTcomposites were allowed to work at a higher temperature environment.This presented research work provided an alternative approach forpreparing EP composites with highly efficient thermal management andelectrical insulation performance, which allowed their applicationin electronic packaging, devices, and other electronic applications.