Estimation of thermal conductivities of a novel fuzzy fiber reinforced composite

The effective thermal conductivities of a novel fuzzy fiber reinforced composite (FFRC) have been determined by employing the effective medium approach in conjunction with the composite cylinder assemblage approach. The novel constructional feature of this FFRC is that the uniformly spaced carbon nanotubes (CNTs) are radially grown on the circumferential surfaces of the unidirectional carbon fiber reinforcements. The present study reveals that the transverse thermal conductivities of the FFRC are improved up to similar to 1040% and similar to 400% over those of the composite without CNTs when the values of CNT volume factions present in the FFRC are 6.88% and 4.27%, respectively. It is also found that the CNT/polymer matrix interfacial thermal resistance does affect the effective thermal conductivities of the FFRC, and the effective values of thermal conductivities of the FFRC are improved with the increase in the values of carbon fiber volume fraction and temperature. (C) 2013 Elsevier Masson SAS. All rights reserved.