Phase (matter)

Composite number

Materials science

Boron nitride

Thermal conductivity

Styrene

Polypropylene

Polymer

Organic chemistry

Polyethylene

Copolymer

Thermoplastic elastomer

Composite material

Chemistry

Thermal conduction

Advanced Composites and Hybrid Materials

In this work, the percentage of polyethylene (PE) and polypropylene (PP) blend is controlled at 50:50 to make the composite by forming a co-continuous structure with hexagonal boron nitride (h-BN). The h-BN is wrapped by thermoplastic elastomer styrene-ethylene-propylene-styrene (SEPS). This approach enables the localized distribution of h-BN at the interface of the co-continuous structure of PE/PP blend and SEPS phases, allowing the construction of a heat conduction path in the SEPS phase, thereby improving the thermal conductivity of PE/PP. Theoretical calculation predicted the localized distribution of SEPS at the interface of the PE/PP blend to form a co-continuous composite structure. The thermal conductivity of the composites can be improved by 57.7% by adding 10 wt% h-BN, presenting a commercial potential of such composites in certain heat dissipation applications.

Improving thermal conductivity of polyethylene/polypropylene by styrene-ethylene-propylene-styrene wrapping hexagonal boron nitride at the phase interface