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Article
Mechanical and Functional Tradeoffs in Multiphase Liquid Metal, Solid Particle Soft Composites
Advanced Functional Materials
  • Ravi Tutika, Iowa State University
  • Shihuai H. Zhou, Ames Laboratory
  • Ralph E. Napolitano, Iowa State University
  • Michael D. Bartlett, Iowa State University
Document Type
Article
Publication Version
Accepted Manuscript
Publication Date
11-7-2018
DOI
10.1002/adfm.201804336
Abstract

Soft materials with high thermal conductivity are critical for flexible electronics, energy storage and transfer, and human‐interface devices and robotics. However, fundamental heat transport limitations in soft and deformable materials present significant challenges for achieving high thermal conductivity. Here, a systematic study of soft composites with solid, liquid, and solid–liquid multiphase metal fillers dispersed in elastomers reveals key strategies to tune the thermal‐mechanical response of soft materials. Experiments supported by thermodynamic and kinetic modeling demonstrate that multiphase systems quickly form intermetallics that solidify and degrade mechanical response with modest gains in thermal conductivity. In contrast, liquid metal inclusions provide benefits over solid and multiphase fillers as they can be loaded up to 80% by volume with the composites being electrically insulating, soft (<1 MPa modulus), and highly thermally conductive (k = 6.7 ± 0.1 W m−1 K−1). The thermal‐mechanical response of the composites is summarized and quantitative design maps are presented for soft, highly thermally conductive materials. This leads to soft materials with unique thermal‐mechanical combinations, highlighted by a liquid metal composite with an unprecedented thermal conductivity of 11.0 ± 0.5 W m−1 K−1 when strained. These materials and approach enable diverse applications from soft conformal materials for stretchable electronics to thermal interface materials in integrated circuits.

Comments

This is the peer-reviewed version of the following article: Tutika, Ravi, Shihuai H. Zhou, Ralph E. Napolitano, and Michael D. Bartlett. "Mechanical and functional tradeoffs in multiphase liquid metal, solid particle soft composites." Advanced Functional Materials 28, no. 45 (2018): 1804336, which has been published in final form at DOI: 10.1002/adfm.201804336. This article may be used for non-commercial purposes in accordance with Wiley Terms and Conditions for Self-Archiving. Posted with permission.

Copyright Owner
WILEY‐VCH Verlag GmbH & Co. KGaA, Weinheim
Language
en
File Format
application/pdf
Citation Information
Ravi Tutika, Shihuai H. Zhou, Ralph E. Napolitano and Michael D. Bartlett. "Mechanical and Functional Tradeoffs in Multiphase Liquid Metal, Solid Particle Soft Composites" Advanced Functional Materials Vol. 28 Iss. 45 (2018) p. 1804336
Available at: http://works.bepress.com/ralph_napolitano/35/