Thermal conductivity measurement

Physics

Thermal resistance

Composite material

Thermal conduction

Materials science

Thermal bridge

Thermal

Layer (electronics)

Thermal contact conductance

Thermal insulation

Volume fraction

Nanofiber

Thermal conductivity

Thermodynamics

Journal of Applied Physics

Understanding thermal transport in nanofiber networks is essential for their applications in thermal management, which are used extensively as mechanically sturdy thermal insulation or high thermal conductivity materials. In this study, using the statistical theory and Fourier's law of heat conduction while accounting for both the inter-fiber contact thermal resistance and the intrinsic thermal resistance of nanofibers, an analytical model is developed to predict the thermal conductivity of nanofiber networks as a function of their geometric and thermal properties. A scaling relation between the thermal conductivity and the geometric properties including volume fraction and nanofiber length of the network is revealed. This model agrees well with both numerical simulations and experimental measurements found in the literature. This model may prove useful in analyzing the experimental results and designing nanofiber networks for both high and low thermal conductivity applications.

Thermal conductivity model for nanofiber networks