Multi‐gating injection molding to enhance the thermal conductivity of carbon fiber/polysulfone composite

Carbon fiber was blended into the polysulfone matrix by twin screw extruder. The polymer composites samples were prepared using four different processing technologies, the compression molding, edge‐gating injection molding, sprue‐gating injection molding, and the multi‐gating injection molding techniques. Among four techniques, the composite samples manufactured by multi‐gating injection molding technique got a higher value of thermal conductivity, which is due to the carbon fibers orientation and distribution. The experimental result indicated that the fiber orientation have a significant influence on the thermal conductivity of polymer composites. The thermal conductivity of sample made by multi‐gating injection molding was 1.82 W/(m·K) when the fiber content was 26 vol%, which was nearly twice than the values obtained by conventional technologies. POLYM. COMPOS., 38:185–191, 2017. © 2015 Society of Plastics Engineers