Composites science and technology 

About: Composites science and technology is an academic journal published by CRC Press. The journal publishes majorly in the area(s): Composite number & Chemistry. It has an ISSN identifier of 2662-1819. Over the lifetime, 703 publications have been published receiving 3274 citations. The journal is also known as: CST.

Flexible and insulating silicone rubber composites with sandwich structure for thermal management and electromagnetic interference shielding

Abstract: High integration development of electronics requires materials possessing excellent thermal conductivity, electromagnetic interference (EMI) shielding, and electrical insulation. In this work, Fe2O3 particles are deposited on carbon fibers (CF) and then utilized as fillers ([email protected]2O3) in boron nitride/silicone rubber (BN/SR) to fabricate sandwich structured [email protected]2O3/(BN/SR) composites, herein, BN/SR as top & substrate layer, and [email protected]2O3 as middle layer. Orientation of BN in [email protected]2O3/(BN/SR) composites realizes excellent in-plane thermal conductivity coefficient (λ∥), and the core-sheath structure of [email protected]2O3 achieves good EMI shielding performance by the “absorption-reflection (transmittance)-reabsorption” process of electromagnetic waves, insulation modification of CF and the sandwich structure strengthen the electrical insulation. When the amount of BN and [email protected]2O3 are 20.6 wt% and 45.5 wt%, respectively, the λ∥, EMI shielding effectiveness, volume resistance and breakdown strength of [email protected]2O3/(BN/SR) composites reach 3.86 W/(m·K), 37.7 dB, 6.2 × 1014 Ω cm and 26.8 kV/mm, respectively, which are all higher than those of commonly fabricated CF/(BN/SR) composites with same amount of BN and CF (3.83 W/(m·K), 19.4 dB, 8.6 × 1013 Ω cm and 21.4 kV/mm). [email protected]2O3/(BN/SR) composites possess better cooling effect (5.6 °C) than that of commercial silicon grease (QM850) on the testing platform of computer's central processing unit, whose functions are more abundant and have wide application prospects in electronics.

Ameliorating strength-ductility efficiency of graphene nanoplatelet-reinforced aluminum composites via deformation-driven metallurgy

Abstract: 1.5 wt% graphene nanoplatelet-reinforced aluminum matrix composites were prepared by deformation-driven metallurgy to ameliorate strength-ductility efficiency. Severe plastic deformation with its frictional/deformation heat introduced by deformation-driven metallurgy was studied by their strengthening-toughing behaviors related to graphene nanoplatelet dispersion, interfacial bonding, and grain refinement. The synergy strengthening behaviors were studied via modeling analysis. Uniform dispersion of graphene nanoplatelets and ultra-fine microstructures (267.0 nm) were obtained via severe plastic deformation and dynamic recrystallization. High-efficiency interfacial bonding was realized via graphene nanoplatelets-(amorphous Al 2 O 3 )-Al semi-direct interface without the formation of Al 4 C 3 . The automatic flow of Al 2 O 3 nanodots to compensate for the spatial discontinuity caused by the interlayer slip of graphene was observed to achieve self-compensating spatial continuity. The ultimate tensile strength and elongation reached 468 ± 7 MPa and 19.9 ± 0.6%, respectively, showing an enhancement of strength by 293.3% with almost no loss in ductility.

Flexible and foldable composite films based on polyimide/phosphorene hybrid aerogel and phase change material for infrared stealth and thermal camouflage

Abstract: Infrared stealth technology plays a vital role in development of defense industry and new military equipment. The current study focused on a novel type of flexible and foldable composite films based on polyimide (PI)/phosphorene (PR) hybrid aerogel and phase change material (PCM) for infrared stealth and thermal camouflage applications. The composite films were successfully obtained by fabricating a PI/PR hybrid aerogel through prepolymerizaton, film casting, freeze-drying, and thermal imidization, followed by vacuum impregnation of polyethylene glycol (PEG) as a PCM into the aerogel framework. The combination of PI and PR nanoflakes endows the hybrid aerogel with an effective enhancement in mechanical properties, near infrared absorption, and infrared photothermal conversion. The resultant composite films not only present prominent tensile and fatigue-resistant performance but also exhibit a good thermal regulation capability with a high latent-heat capacity of over 150 J/g. More importantly, the composite films demonstrate good infrared stealth and thermal camouflage performance on the high-temperature targets through effective thermal buffer and insulation. With ultralight, flexible, foldable, shape-tunable, and thermal self-regulatory characteristics, the PI/PR aerogel/PEG composite films developed by this work exhibit great application potential in infrared stealth and thermal camouflage for new military equipment. • A flexible and foldable composite film was designed for infrared stealth and thermal camouflage. • The film was based on the polyimide/phosphorene hybrid aerogel and phase change material. • The introduction of phosphorene enhances infrared absorption and photothermal conservation. • The film exhibit a good thermal regulation ability to buffer thermal swings. • The film shows great potential for stealth and camouflage applications in new military equipment.

MOF-derived CoNi@C-silver nanowires/cellulose nanofiber composite papers with excellent thermal management capability for outstanding electromagnetic interference shielding

Abstract: High-performance electromagnetic interference (EMI) shielding materials with excellent flexibility and superior thermal management properties are ideal candidates for aerospace, communication industry, artificial intelligence, and wearable electronics. Herein, MOF-derived [email protected] nanowires/cellulose nanofiber (MAg/CNF) composite papers with Janus structure were prepared using a combination of two-step vacuum filtration and hot pressing. The resulting composite papers exhibit distinct electrical differences on both sides. The electrical conductivity of the [email protected]/CNF side is 8.35 × 10−12 S/cm, while that of the AgNWs/CNF side is 990 S/cm. EMI shielding effectiveness (SE) of the MAg/CNF composite papers reaches 82 dB in the X-band, benefiting from effective double-layer structure, the AgNWs conductive network and the [email protected] permeability network for adequate dissipation of electromagnetic waves. Excellent EMI shielding performance is maintained even after being subjected to low temperature of −196 °C and bending cycles of 1000 times. In addition, the MAg/CNF composite paper-based electric heaters exhibit satisfactory heating temperatures at absolutely safe operating voltages for the human as well as sufficient stability and repeatability during repeated heating and cooling cycles. Therefore, our fabricated MAg/CNF composite papers with Janus structure present broad application prospects for high-performance EMI shielding and thermal management in low-temperature environment.

Highly thermally conductive polymer composite enhanced by two-level adjustable boron nitride network with leaf venation structure

Abstract: Thermally conductive polymer-based composites are extensively used in many fields as thermal control materials. Their thermal conductivity can be effectively improved via the construction of a 3D thermal conduction network. However, multiple 3D networks have low density and lack elasticity and flexibility, leading to suboptimal thermal conductivity. In this study, a composite with high thermal conductivity is obtained by building a two-level adjustable boron nitride (BN) network with leaf venation structure in an epoxy resin matrix, and the density and orientation of the network are controlled by compression. The primary and secondary BN networks construct efficient phonon conduction channels. Moreover, the polydopamine interface between the thermally conductive network and substrate greatly reduces interfacial phonon scattering. The in-plane and cross-plane thermal conductivities of the composite at 35.9 wt% BN loading reach 10.20 and 4.95 W m−1K−1, respectively. And the composite has excellent electrical insulation, all making it promising for the thermal management of electronic equipment and thermal interface material in application prospects, such as the soft robotics, flexible smart devices, and aerospace.