Preparation and properties of boron nitride nanosheets/cellulose nanofiber shear-oriented films with high thermal conductivity

A highly thermally conductive boron nitride nanosheets/cellulose nanofiber (BNNS/CNF) oriented film was prepared by doctor blading method via mechanical shear-induced orientation. The SEM images for cross-sectional parts showed that BNNS were well aligned within the film, forming a good layered structure. The XRD results further confirmed the high orientation effect of BNNS. Due to the excellent thermal stability of BNNS and its good physical barrier effect on the matrix after the orientation treatment, the thermal stability of shear-oriented films was largely improved. Resulting from the shear-induced orientation, BNNS were closely contacted with each other, forming a good thermally conductive pathway within the CNF matrix. Thus the influence of the interfacial thermal resistance was dramatically reduced, and the thermal conductivity of shear-oriented films increased in proportion to filler loading. With 50 wt% BNNS, the thermal conductivity of the shear-oriented film reached 24.66 W/(m·K), which exhibited 1106% enhancement compared to the pure CNF.