Thermal Diffusivity and Thermal Conductivity of Epoxy-Based Nanocomposites by the Laser Flash and Differential Scanning Calorimetry Techniques

Jasper Chiguma, Edwin Johnson, Preyah Shah, Natalya Gornopolskaya, Wayne E. Jones Jr.

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Department of Chemistry, Binghamton University, Binghamton, USA.

DOI: 10.4236/ojcm.2013.33007                

Abstract

Nanocomposites were fabricated by using a commercial two part epoxy as a matrix and multiwalled carbon nanotubes, graphite fibers and boron nitride platelets as filler materials. Multiwalled carbon nanotubes (MWCNTs) that were produced by chemical vapor deposition were found to produce nanocomposites with better thermal diffusivity and thermal conductivity than the MWCNTs that were produced by the combustion method. Compared to the MWCNTs produced by both methods and graphite fibers, boron nitride produced nanocomposites with the highest thermal conductivity. Specific heat capacity was measured by using differential scanning calorimetry and thermal diffusivity was measured by using the laser flash.

Keywords

Nanocomposites; Thermal Diffusivity; Thermal Conductivity; Heat Capacity; Laser Flash; Differential Scanning Calorimetry

Conflicts of Interest

The authors declare no conflicts of interest.

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