title: Copper shell networks in polymer composites for efficient thermal conduction.
abstract: Thermal management of polymeric composites is a crucial issue to determine the performance and reliability of the devices. Here, we report a straightforward route to prepare polymeric composites with Cu thin film networks. Taking advantage of the fluidity of polymer melt and the ductile properties of Cu films, the polymeric composites were created by the Cu metallization of PS bead and the hot press molding of Cu-plated PS beads. The unique three-dimensional Cu shell-networks in the PS matrix demonstrated isotropic and ideal conductive performance at even extremely low Cu contents. In contrast to the conventional simple melt-mixed Cu beads/PS composites at the same concentration of 23.0 vol %, the PS composites with Cu shell networks indeed revealed 60 times larger thermal conductivity and 8 orders of magnitude larger electrical conductivity. Our strategy offers a straightforward and high-throughput route for the isotropic thermal and electrical conductive composites.
authors.affiliation: Center for Materials Architecturing, Korea Institute of Science and Technology , Seoul 136-791, Republic of Korea.
authors.forename: Seunggun
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Yu
authors.forename: Jang-Woo
authors.initials: JW
authors.lastname: Lee
authors.forename: Tae Hee
authors.initials: TH
authors.lastname: Han
authors.forename: Cheolmin
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Park
authors.forename: Youngdon
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Kwon
authors.forename: Soon Man
authors.initials: SM
authors.lastname: Hong
authors.forename: Chong Min
authors.initials: CM
authors.lastname: Koo