Thermal conductivity of nanocomposites
Thermal conductivity values measured for nanocomposites
reinforced with pristine as well as aminosilane and TiO2 treated
CNT are presented in Fig. 7a. The value of thermal conductivity
was found to increase for nanocomposites prepared from function-
alized CNTs. Thermal conductivity for elastomer composites with-
out reinforcing CNTs were found to exhibit lower values. Thermal
conductivity for only CIIR–ENR (CEN) composite found enhanced
while compared to CIIR–NR (CN) composite. However, it was also
interesting that, the nanocomposite prepared from ENR and
aminosilane treated CNTs exhibited maximum increase of thermal
conductivity. Itmight be due to the presence of epoxy group within
ENR rubber matrix. The epoxidized groups in ENR surface can take
part in strong bond formation between aminosilane treated CNTs
as shown in Fig. 7b. This bond formation was responsible to help
to conduct phonon through composite surface. The composites
prepared with TiO2 treated CNTs and ENR rubber also exhibited
substantial increase in thermal conductivity, although the increase
was not as prominent as for aminosilane treated CNT reinforced composites. That might be due to lack of strong network formation
as it was seen for aminosilane treated composite.