Thermal transport in polymeric materials and across composite interfaces

Abstract Thermal conduction in polymeric materials and across interfaces is of considerable scientific and technological importance nevertheless only very few studies are available without elucidating the detailed recent understandings of thermal transport in polymers and its composites. This limits our present understanding of science for creating better thermal pathways for efficient thermal management applications. This comprehensive review attempts to offer a fundamental knowledge base to elucidate energy transfer pathways, mechanisms, various factors governing heat conduction in polymers and interfaces along with identification of various fillers, matrix and techniques for the modification of interfaces to enhance heat conduction. First theoretical basis is used to establish fundamental of heat transfer in molecule, bulk polymeric material and polymer composites and interfaces and then various detailed factors governing the thermal transport of polymer and interfaces are presented. Various recent techniques to improve thermal conductivity of polymer and interfaces are illustrated through examples and case studies. Apart from the traditional technologies (filler and matrix), the recent developments in non-conventional technologies like polymer blends, polymer/inorganic and polymer/organic hybrids, etc. are also presented. We expect that various future studies may benefit from knowledge gained in this detailed in-depth review on thermal transport in polymer and interfaces.