Thermophysical properties of multi-walled carbon nanotube-reinforced polypropylene composites

The thermal conductivity and thermal diffusivity of chemically surface-treated multi-walled carbon nanotube (MWCNT) reinforced polypropylene (PP) composites were measured using the 3ω method in the temperature range of 90-320 K and photoacoustic (PA) spectroscopy at room temperature, respectively. Nine kinds of samples were prepared by the melt-blending of PP resins with the addition of 0.1, 0.5, and 2.0 mass% of non-treated, nitric acid (HNO₃)-treated, and potassium hydroxide (KOH)-treated nanotube contents, and compression-molded at 180°C into about 0.5 mm thickness composite films using the hot-press. The measured thermal conductivities are in the range from 0.05 to 0.6 W •m^-1•K^-1 and increase as the temperature increases and the CNT concentrations are increased. By the chemical treatment, the thermal conductivity of 0.5 and 2.0 mass% samples were enhanced by about a factor of two; however, the sample of 0.1 mass% did not change. This can be explained qualitatively by the effects of chemical treatment on the reinforcing ability for CNTs/polymer composites.