Effect of carbon-based fillers on the thermal conductivity of polymers: A review

Polymers are extensively utilized in automotive, medical, and aerospace sectors due to their low density, high strength, ease of processing, and durability. However, their inherently low thermal conductivity limits their effectiveness in heat transfer and dissipation applications. The incorporation of high-thermal-conductivity fillers offers a viable strategy to enhance thermal transport efficiency. Carbon-based materials, characterized by their high crystallinity and exceptional intrinsic thermal conductivity, have shown great promise. When integrated into polymer matrices, these carbon-based fillers facilitate the formation of continuous thermal conduction pathways, significantly improving the overall thermal performance of polymer composites, rendering them highly suitable for thermal management applications. This review provides a comprehensive overview of the effects of incorporating various commonly used carbon-based materials as well as the role of hybridized carbon structures in enhancing composite performance. By optimizing factors such as filler size, concentration, surface modification, dispersion uniformity, orientation within the matrix, interfacial interactions with the polymer, and hybridization strategies, the development of efficient thermal conduction networks can be further promoted. Compared to conventional fillers, carbon-based fillers exhibit superior thermal conductivity, expanding the application scope of polymer composites in areas such as construction, thermal interface materials, electronic devices, and battery thermal management. To fully realize the potential of carbon fillers/polymer composites and extend their practical applications, further theoretical and experimental investigations are essential to achieve a deeper understanding of their thermal transport mechanisms and interfacial interactions.