Wood-Derived, Vertically Aligned, and Densely Interconnected 3D SiC Frameworks for Anisotropically Highly Thermoconductive Polymer Composites

Construction of a vertically aligned and densely interconnected ordered 3D filler framework in a polymer matrix is a challenge to attain significant thermal conductivity (TC) enhancement efficiency. Fortunately, many biomaterials with unique microstructures can be found in nature. With inspiration from wood, artificial composites can be rationally designed to achieve desired properties. Herein, the authors report a facile and effective approach to fabricate anisotropic polymer composites by biotemplate ceramization technology and subsequent vacuum impregnation of epoxy resin. The hierarchical microstructure of wood is perfectly replicated in the cellular biomass derived SiC (bioSiC) framework by carbothermal reduction. Owing to the anisotropic architecture of bioSiC, the epoxy composite with vertically aligned dense SiC microchannels shows interesting properties, including a high TC (10.27 W m(-1)K(-1)), a significant enhancement efficiency (259 per 1 vol% loading), an outstanding anisotropic TC ratio (5.77), an extremely low coefficient of linear thermal expansion (12.23 ppm K-1), a high flexural strength (222 MPa), and an excellent flame resistance. These results demonstrate that this approach is expected to open a new avenue for design and preparation of high performance thermal management materials to address the heat dissipation of modern electronics.

Automated summary

This article presents a facile and effective method to fabricate anisotropic polymer composites using biotemplate ceramization technology. By replicating the hierarchical microstructure of wood in the cellular biomass derived SiC framework, an epoxy composite with vertically aligned dense SiC microchannels is achieved, which exhibits interesting properties including high thermal conductivity, significant enhancement efficiency, and outstanding anisotropic thermal conductivity ratio.