Synthesis of uniform α-Si3N4 nanospheres by RF induction thermal plasma and their application in high thermal conductive nanocomposites.

In this paper, single-crystalline α-Si3N4 nanospheres with uniform size of ∼50 nm are successfully synthesized by using a radio frequency (RF) thermal plasma system in a one-step and continuous way. All Si3N4 nanoparticles present nearly perfect spherical shape with a narrow size distribution, and the diameter is well-controlled by changing the feeding rate. Compact Si3N4/PR (PR = phenolic resin) composites with high thermal conductivity, excellent temperature stability, low dielectric loss tangent, and enhanced breakdown strength are obtained by incorporating the as-synthesized Si3N4 nanospheres. These enhanced properties are the results of good compatibility and strong interfacial adhesion between compact Si3N4 nanospheres and polymer matrix, as large amount of Si3N4 nanospheres can uniformly disperse in the polymer matrix and form thermal conductive networks for diffusion of heat flow.

[1]  Tao Ai,et al.  A novel fiber-reinforced polyethylene composite with added silicon nitride particles for enhanced thermal conductivity , 2009 .

[2]  Xingyi Huang,et al.  Graphene oxide-encapsulated carbon nanotube hybrids for high dielectric performance nanocomposites with enhanced energy storage density. , 2013, Nanoscale.

[3]  D. Xiong,et al.  Study on Mechanical, Thermal and Electrical Characterizations of Nano-SiC/Epoxy Composites , 2009 .

[4]  P. Gonon,et al.  Combined effects of humidity and thermal stress on the dielectric properties of epoxy-silica composites , 2001 .

[5]  Yang Shen,et al.  Dielectric properties of carbon fiber filled low-density polyethylene , 2003 .

[6]  Lin Zhang,et al.  Dielectric characteristics of CaCu3Ti4O12/P(VDF-TrFE) nanocomposites , 2012 .

[7]  M. Hussain,et al.  Effects of wet ball-milling on particle dispersion and mechanical properties of particulate epoxy composites , 1996 .

[8]  C. Zhi,et al.  Alignment of Boron Nitride Nanotubes in Polymeric Composite Films for Thermal Conductivity Improvement , 2010 .

[9]  P. Supancic,et al.  Thermal Conductivity of Platelet‐Filled Polymer Composites , 2004 .

[10]  Xingyi Huang,et al.  Large dielectric constant and high thermal conductivity in poly(vinylidene fluoride)/barium titanate/silicon carbide three-phase nanocomposites. , 2011, ACS applied materials & interfaces.

[11]  Xiao Hu,et al.  Thermal conductivity of polystyrene–aluminum nitride composite , 2002 .

[12]  C. R. Nair,et al.  Thermal characteristics of addition-cure phenolic resins , 2001 .

[13]  Zhiping Luo,et al.  Polyaniline stabilized magnetite nanoparticle reinforced epoxy nanocomposites. , 2012, ACS applied materials & interfaces.

[14]  Shuhui Yu,et al.  Electrical modulus analysis on the Ni/CCTO/PVDF system near the percolation threshold , 2011 .

[15]  A. Murphy,et al.  Thermal plasmas for nanofabrication , 2011 .

[16]  Xueqin Zhang,et al.  Enhanced dielectric properties of amino-modified-CNT/polyimide composite films with a sandwich structure , 2014 .

[17]  C. Zhi,et al.  Temperature-dependent electrical property transition of graphene oxide paper , 2012, Nanotechnology.

[18]  Shuhui Yu,et al.  Nano Ag-deposited BaTiO3 hybrid particles as fillers for polymeric dielectric composites: toward high dielectric constant and suppressed loss. , 2014, ACS applied materials & interfaces.

[19]  S. Kanzaki,et al.  Hot Isostatic Pressing to Increase Thermal Conductivity of Si_3N_4 Ceramics , 1999 .

[20]  Zhiping Luo,et al.  Epoxy resin nanosuspensions and reinforced nanocomposites from polyaniline stabilized multi-walled carbon nanotubes , 2013 .

[21]  Yuzuru Shimazaki,et al.  Highly thermoconductive polymer nanocomposite with a nanoporous alpha-alumina sheet. , 2009, ACS applied materials & interfaces.

[22]  M. Meyyappan.  Plasma nanotechnology: past, present and future , 2011 .

[23]  J. Fothergill,et al.  Internal charge behaviour of nanocomposites , 2004 .

[24]  V. Nebol'sin,et al.  Role of Surface Energy in the Vapor–Liquid–Solid Growth of Silicon , 2003 .

[25]  N. Khashab,et al.  Compositing polyetherimide with polyfluorene wrapped carbon nanotubes for enhanced interfacial interaction and conductivity. , 2014, ACS applied materials & interfaces.

[26]  Hilmar Koerner,et al.  Nanolaminates: increasing dielectric breakdown strength of composites. , 2012, ACS applied materials & interfaces.

[27]  A. Beroual,et al.  Influences of degree of curing and presence of inorganic fillers on the ultimate electrical properties of epoxy-based composites: experiment and simulation , 2005 .

[28]  Zhi‐Kang Xu,et al.  Preparation and properties of polyimide/aluminum nitride composites , 2004 .

[29]  K. A. Trick,et al.  Mechanisms of the pyrolysis of phenolic resin in a carbon/phenolic composite , 1995 .

[30]  E. Pfender,et al.  Formation of ultrafine β-silicon carbide powders in an argon thermal plasma jet , 1987 .

[31]  N. Jiang,et al.  Study on the pyrolysis of phenol-formaldehyde (PF) resin and modified PF resin , 2009 .

[32]  Xiang-Yun Guo,et al.  Temperature-controlled synthesis of Si3N4 nanomaterials via direct nitridation of Si powders , 2010 .

[33]  H. Liem,et al.  Enhanced thermal conductivity of boron nitride epoxy‐matrix composite through multi‐modal particle size mixing , 2007 .

[34]  Xin Zhou,et al.  A Dielectric Polymer with High Electric Energy Density and Fast Discharge Speed , 2006, Science.

[35]  K. Goodson,et al.  Thermal conduction in aligned carbon nanotube-polymer nanocomposites with high packing density. , 2011, ACS nano.

[36]  Jiajun Wang,et al.  Preparation and the properties of PMR‐type polyimide composites with aluminum nitride , 2003 .

[37]  C. Schulz,et al.  Plasma synthesis of nanostructures for improved thermoelectric properties , 2011 .

[38]  Xingyi Huang,et al.  Electrical and thermophysical properties of epoxy/aluminum nitride nanocomposites: Effects of nanoparticle surface modification , 2010 .

[39]  P. McEuen,et al.  Thermal transport measurements of individual multiwalled nanotubes. , 2001, Physical Review Letters.

[40]  Y. Takezawa,et al.  Study on high thermal conductivity of mesogenic epoxy resin with spherulite structure , 2012 .

[41]  P.H.F. Morshuis,et al.  Modelling of the thermal conductivity in polymer nanocomposites and the impact of the interface between filler and matrix , 2011 .

[42]  Yi Yin,et al.  Giant Dielectric Permittivities in Functionalized Carbon-Nanotube/ Electroactive-Polymer Nanocomposites† , 2007 .

[43]  Shuhua Qi,et al.  Thermally conductive silicone rubber reinforced with boron nitride particle , 2007 .

[44]  Sanghyun Lee,et al.  The properties of AlN-filled epoxy molding compounds by the effects of filler size distribution , 2000 .

[45]  P. Jiang,et al.  Influence of interface structure on dielectric properties of epoxy/alumina nanocomposites , 2012, Macromolecular Research.

[46]  Qiuyu Zhang,et al.  Thermal conductivity epoxy resin composites filled with boron nitride , 2012 .

[47]  Ming-Jen Pan,et al.  High energy density nanocomposites based on surface-modified BaTiO(3) and a ferroelectric polymer. , 2009, ACS nano.

[48]  H. Ishida,et al.  Very high thermal conductivity obtained by boron nitride-filled polybenzoxazine , 1998 .

[49]  Guangsheng Wang.  Enhanced dielectric properties of three-phase-percolative composites based on thermoplastic-ceramic matrix (BaTiO3 + PVDF) and ZnO radial nanostructures. , 2010, ACS applied materials & interfaces.

[50]  D. Xiong,et al.  Improved thermal conductivity of epoxy composites using a hybrid multi-walled carbon nanotube/micro-SiC filler , 2010 .

[51]  C. Zhi,et al.  Polyhedral Oligosilsesquioxane‐Modified Boron Nitride Nanotube Based Epoxy Nanocomposites: An Ideal Dielectric Material with High Thermal Conductivity , 2013 .

[52]  D. Godovsky.  Device Applications of Polymer-Nanocomposites , 2000 .

[53]  M. Meyyappan,et al.  Thermal Interface Properties of Cu-filled Vertically Aligned Carbon Nanofiber Arrays , 2004 .

[54]  Ketan S Khare,et al.  Effect of carbon nanotube functionalization on mechanical and thermal properties of cross-linked epoxy-carbon nanotube nanocomposites: role of strengthening the interfacial interactions. , 2014, ACS applied materials & interfaces.

[55]  Shuhua Qi,et al.  Thermal conductivity of boron nitride reinforced polyethylene composites , 2007 .

[56]  Yangfei Chen,et al.  A novel thermal degradation mechanism of phenol–formaldehyde type resins , 2008 .

[57]  L. Schadler,et al.  Designed Interfaces in Polymer Nanocomposites: A Fundamental Viewpoint , 2007 .

[58]  Hongxia Yan,et al.  Nano-Si3N4/epoxidized silane/cyanate ester composites for electronic packaging , 2013, Polymer Bulletin.

[59]  Ayse Aytac,et al.  Properties of thermally conductive micro and nano size boron nitride reinforced silicon rubber composites , 2010 .

[60]  Jae Ik Lee,et al.  Enhanced thermal conductivity of polymer composites filled with hybrid filler , 2006 .

[61]  Jin Yu,et al.  Comparative study of thermally conductive fillers in underfill for the electronic components , 2005 .