TiO2 nanowire formation and GO reduction through a hydrothermal reaction to improve the thermal conductivity of epoxy composites

Abstract The thermal path must be properly configured to improve the thermal properties of polymer composites. Three‐dimensional (3D) thermally conductive networks can be used as an excellent means for building high‐speed conductive pathways in polymer composites. Titanium dioxide (TiO 2 ) nanowire (NW)/reduced graphene oxide (rGO)/epoxy (EP) composite material has a 3D foam structure and focuses on TiO 2 NW formation and rGO gelation through a hydrothermal process. The thermal conductivity of the synthetic composite material through filler loading at 50 wt.% and heat transfer path formation was 805% higher than that of pure EP, and the thermal conductivity was superior to that of the composite material with randomly dispersed fillers. Therefore, this work describes an advanced process to improve the thermal conductivity of polymer composites significantly.