Flexible, thermally conductive, electrically insulated, and high‐temperature resistant PDMS@BN composite films with high orientation degree of BN sheets prepared by facile spin‐coating

• Published in: Journal of applied polymer science 2024-09, Vol.141 (36), p.n/a
• Main Authors: Lin, Dexuan, Guo, Jianhua, Jiang, Xinghua
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Subjects: Boron nitride; Coating effects; coatings; Heat conductivity; Heat transfer; theory and modeling; Thermal conductivity; thermal properties; Thermal resistance; Thickness
• ISSN: 0021-8995; 1097-4628
• DOI: 10.1002/app.55907

Currently, flexible thermal interface materials (TIMs) containing hexagonal boron nitride (h‐BN) as thermal conductive fillers become a research hot spot. In this study, PDMS@BN composite films were prepared using spin‐coating technology, providing a facile and efficient method for the preparation of TIMs. The effects of spin‐coating speed and time on the thermal conductivity and the orientation degree of BN within composite films were investigated. Additionally, a theoretical model was established to calculate the thickness and thermal conductivity of PDMS@BN composite films under various spin‐coating conditions. The findings indicate that with an increase of spin‐coating speed and extension of spin‐coating time, the thickness of the composite films gradually decreases, while the in‐plane and through‐plane thermal conductivity gradually increases. When compared to a low spin‐coating speed of 500 rpm, the thermal conductivity of the films produced by a higher speed of 2500 rpm, exhibited an increase of 274%. The film achieves outstanding thermal conductivity (5.79 W m−1 K−1), extremely thin thickness (60 μm), high volume resistivity (1.22 × 1013 Ω cm) and excellent flexibility by incorporating 60 wt % h‐BN flakes. Overall, this study presents an efficiently and eco‐friendly approach for high‐performance TIMs. A thermal interface film consisting of hexagonal boron nitride (h‐BN) and polydimethylsiloxane (PDMS) was prepared using the spin‐coating technique. The PDMS@BN composite films exhibit high filler orientation, extremely thin thickness, outstanding thermal conductivity, and excellent flexibility.