Synergistic thermal conductivity enhancement of PC/ABS composites containing alumina/magnesia/graphene nanoplatelets

Graphene nanoplatelets (GNPs) have attracted considerable attention in the field of thermal management materials due to their unique structure and exceptional thermal conductive properties. In this work, we demonstrate a significant synergistic effect of GNPs, alumina (Al2O3), and magnesia (MgO) in improving the thermal conductivity of polycarbonate/acrylonitrile-butadiene-styrene polymer alloy (PC/ABS) composites. The thermal conductivity of the composites prepared through partial replacement of Al2O3 and MgO with GNPs could increase dramatically compared with that without GNPs. The maximum thermal conductivity of the composite is 3.11 W mK−1 at total mass fraction of 70% with 0.5 wt% GNPs loading. It increases 60% compared with that without GNPs (1.95 W mK−1). The synergistic effect results from the compact packing structure formed by Al2O3/MgO and the bridging of GNPs with Al2O3/MgO, thus promoting the formation of effective thermal conduction pathways within PC/ABS matrix. More importantly, together with the intrinsically high thermal conductivity of GNPs, boosted and effective pathways for phonon transport can be created, thus decrease the thermal resistance at the interface between fillers and PC/ABS matrix and increase the thermal conductivity of composites. POLYM. COMPOS., 38:2221–2227, 2017. © 2015 Society of Plastics Engineers