Epoxy-based composites are important components of many aerospace systems by virtue of their excellent mechanical properties.  However, the low thermal conductivity of epoxy composites can limit their applications where the ability to manage heat build-up is important.  The very high thermal conductivity of carbon nanotubes suggests that they could enhance the thermal conductivity of the epoxy matrix and also help mitigate the insulative nature of the larger-scale interfaces in the composite.   To explore the advantages that inclusion of nanotubes might offer, we have undertaken molecular modeling to investigate the thermal behavior of the epoxy, of substituted carbon nanotubes, graphene-nanotube structures, and of the resulting nanocomposites.  The effects of substituents on the thermal transport of the carbon nanotubes, of junctions between nanotubes and graphene sheets, and of the interfaces between the components will be described.

Modeling thermal transport in polymer nanocomposites

243rd National Meeting (2012)

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