Synergistic effect of boron nitride and tetrapod‐shaped zinc oxide whisker hybrid fillers on filler networks in thermal conductive HDPE composites

In this paper, in order to investigate and predict the synergistic effect of the tetra‐needle‐shaped zinc oxide whisker (T‐ZnO) and boron nitride (BN) hybrid fillers in the thermal conductive high‐density polyethylene (HDPE) composites, the filler networks were studied through dynamic rheological measurement. Moreover, the crystallinity of the HDPE in the composites, and the thermal and electrical conductivity of the composites were also investigated. It was found that when the ratio of the BN and T‐ZnO in hybrid fillers was 20:10, the HDPE/hybrid fillers composite not only had the highest thermal conductivity but also can maintain the electrically insulating. Furthermore, the gel point of the HDPE/hybrid fillers composites was 11.2 wt%, and it was close to the 10 wt%. Therefore, the synergistic effect of the T‐ZnO and BN hybrid fillers in the HDPE/hybrid fillers composites can be successfully predicted through dynamic rheology date. Simultaneously, the Scanning electron microscope results showed that the T‐ZnO and BN particles can contact each other to form the thermal conductive paths so that the thermal conductivity of the HDPE can be enhanced through addition of the hybrid fillers. In addition, it was also found that the improved thermal conductivity of the HDPE/hybrid fillers composites was not because of a change in the crystallinity of the HDPE in the HDPE/hybrid fillers composites. POLYM. COMPOS., 38:1902–1909, 2017. © 2015 Society of Plastics Engineers