Investigation of thermal conductivity enhancement in bakelite–graphite particulate filled polymeric composite

This paper presents an investigation of thermal conductivity enhancement of a particulate filled polymeric composite. Different samples of bakelite–graphite composite material were prepared by compression molding technique. Conductive filler (graphite) percentage varied from 30% to 55% by volume. Thermal conductivities of composite samples were measured by using P.A Hilton Heat Conduction Unit H-940. ASTM standard E1225-99 was followed for numerical calculation. Gradual increase in thermal conductivity has been observed, with increase in conductive filler percentage in composite sample. Since many theoretical/empirical models are available in the literature for the estimation of effective thermal conductivity of filled composite systems. Therefore, the experimental results of thermal conductivity were plotted along with the available theoretical models. It was found that the Mori–Tanaka model for prolate inclusions and the Hamilton–Crosser model yield the closest approximation to the measured thermal conductivity of filled composite system where the particle shape morphology is important.