Through Plane Networked Graphene Oxide/Polyester Hybrid Thermal Interface Material for Heat Management Applications

The role of electronic devices in our lives is increasing rapidly, with more research focusing on miniaturization, creating more demand for thermal interface materials (TIM). Grease-based TIM presently available have good thermal conductivity values, but issues such as contamination, pump-out, and an additional curing step are observed. Fibrous textile substrates are soft and flexible, making them suitable for occupying the asperities between the heat sink and heat-producing devices. However, they are insulating in nature and can be made conductive using conductive fillers such as graphene oxide (GO). In this article, a networked through-plane thermally conductive TIM using the cutting waste of polyester and GO was fabricated. The methodology involved functionalizing the PET substrate and studying its interaction with GO. A networked GO/PET, (N-GOPET) hybrid TIM was fabricated from waste PET with good through-plane heat conduction performance, softness, and cuttability as a promising replacement for grease-based TIM.