Effect of the particle size of Al2O3 on the properties of filled heat-conductive silicone rubber

An elastomeric thermal pad with a thermal conductivity of 1.45 W/m K, needed for the heat dissipation of microelectronics, was obtained with hybrid alumina of different particle sizes as a filler and silicone rubber (vinylend-blocked polymethylsiloxane) as the matrix. The effects of the amount, particle size, and mixing mass ratio of the filler particles on the thermal conductivity and mechanical properties of silicone rubber were investigated. The results indicated that the thermal conductivity of the rubber filled with larger particles was superior to that of the rubber filled with the smaller grain size, and the rubber incorporated with a mixture of hybrid particles at a preferable mass ratio exhibited higher thermal conductivity than the rubber for which a filler with only a single particle size was used. In addition, the surface treatment of the hybrid filler with 3-methacryloyloxypropyltrimethoxysilane could increase the thermal conductivity of the composite rubber. (c) 2007 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J AppI Polym Sci 104: 1312-1318, 2007.