Unique Thermal Conductivity Behavior of Single-Walled Carbon Nanotube-Polystyrene Composites

A method is proposed to investigate thermal conductivity behavior of single-walled carbon nanotube (SWCNT)-polystyrene composites. It was observed during the study that the thermal conductivity of SWCNT polystyrene composites increased in the nanotube composites. The study also found that the thermal conductivity of SWCNT polystyrene composites decrease when the polymer matrix become less stiff and the heat capacity decreases with the addition of nanotubes. The one-point modulating method was used to determine the specific heat capacities. It was also found that the thermal conductivity of the pure polystyrene increase monotonically with the temperature. The study also observed that at glass transition temperature the thermal conductivity of pure polystyrene started to decrease with an increase in temperature.