Graphite nanoplatelet-epoxy composite thermal interface materials

Natural graphite was intercalated, thermally exfoliated, and dispersed in acetone to prepare graphite nanoplatelets (GNPs, G(n)) of controlled aspect ratio. Thermal conductivity measurements indicate that few graphene layer G(n), where n similar to 4, with a thickness of similar to 2 nm function as a very efficient filler for epoxy composites. When embedded in an epoxy matrix, the G(4) GNPs provide a thermal conductivity enhancement of more than 3000% (loading of similar to 25 vol %), and a thermal conductivity kappa = 6.44 W/mK, which surpasses the performance of conventional fillers that require a loading of similar to 70 vol % to achieve these values. We attribute the outstanding thermal properties of this material to a favorable combination of the high aspect ratio, two-dimensional geometry, stiffness, and low thermal interface resistance of the GNPs.