The Effect of Ultrasonic Treatment and Gamma Radiation on the Thermal Conductivity of TPNR Hybrid Nanocomposites

This paper discusses the effect of Gamma radiation and ultrasonic treatment time on hybrid nanofillers nanoclay and multi-walled carbon nanotubes (MWCNTs) as reinforcing agents to improve the thermal conductivity of TPNR. The laser flash technique was also employed to determine the thermal conductivity of the hybrid nanocomposite. The thermal conductivity of hybrid nanocomposites that were sintered at 30 to 150 °C did not show a monotonous change with MWCNTs as the filler has a high thermal conductivity compared to nanoclay by using different dose of gamma radiation or with different time of ultrasonic treatment. TEM results showed a combination of intercalated-exfoliated structure of OMMT and the dispersion of MWCNTs in the TPNR composite. The probability that hybrid nanoparticles form a network depends on the interaction between the particles, on their shape (aspect ration), preparation conditions and on their inter-particle distance will control the thermal conductivity of the hybrid nanocomposite.