A Facile Way of Enhancing Thermal Conduction in Epoxy-Based Nanocomposites via Construction of Well-Defined Hybrid Filler Networks Using a Magnetic Field

A series of epoxy (EP) resin-based composites were preparedusinga magnetically responsive cobalt@graphene nanoplatelet (Co@GNP) asthermally conductive and electromagnetic shielding reinforcing fillersby the introduction of catalytic sites and coprecipitation techniques.Our findings suggested that the formation of the network structurebetween Co@GNP and Co@GNP made the resultant composites exhibit excellentheat transfer/heat dissipation efficiency and stability at elevatedtemperatures. Furthermore, the method of systematically solving andpredicting heat transfer efficiency of resultant composites was proposedwith the aid of the TPM (three-parameter fitting method), FPM (four-parameterfitting method), and ETM (enthalpy transformation method). The correlationbetween calculated results and experimental data was compared andanalyzed, with the positive influence of filler loading and magneticfield orientation on the thermal conduction of the composites verified.At the same time, the obtained samples also showed acceptable electromagneticinterference shielding effectiveness (EMI SE) within the X-band. The present work has practical implications for further expandingthe application ranges of EP/Co@GNP composites, which also provides insight into the optimal design of manufacturing routes for polymercomposites with desired performance.