Science Daily March 30, 2018
Previously engineered ultradrawn nanofibers from a standard sample of polyethylene could only dissipate heat along the length of each polymer chain. A team of researchers in the US (MIT, Argonne National Laboratory) developed a new way to engineer a polymer conductor using oxidative chemical vapor deposition, whereby two vapors are directed into a chamber and onto a substrate, where they interact and form a film creating rigid chains of polymers, rather than the twisted, spaghetti-like strands in normal polymers. 2 square centimeter samples they produced were able to conduct heat at about 2 watts per meter per kelvin — about 10 times faster than what conventional polymers can achieve. The research may resolve the overheating problem and provide better thermal management… read more. Open Access TECHNICAL ARTICLEÂ
The new technique could prevent overheating of laptops, mobile phones, and other electronics. Credit: Chelsea Turner/MIT