Thermal contact conductance of selected polymeric materials

Abstract

The thermal conductivity and thermal contact conductance of several thermoplastic and thermosetting polymers have been studied over a range of interface pressures and temperatures. The temperature range for the thermal conductivity study varied from 10 to 100°C (50 to 212°F). The study showed that ultra high molecular weight (UHMW) polyethylene had the highest thermal conductivity through the range of temperatures and also had the highest thermal conductance values at an interface temperature of 20°C (68°F). The thermal contact conductance study was conducted over a pressure range of 510-2760 kPa (75-400 psi) and a temperature range of 20-40°C (68-104°F). The conductance values for UHMW polyethylene ranged from 1095.3 to 1659.4 W/m2 K (192.9 to 292.2 Btu/h ft2 °F), whereas the thermal conductivity remained constant at 0.45 W/m K (0.26 Btu/h ft °F) throughout the range of temperatures. Polycarbonate and Teflon® had the next highest thermal conductance values at the same interface temperature. The thermal contact conductance values for polyethylene, Teflon, and phenolic polymers were measured at an elevated temperature of 40°C (104°F). The thermal contact conductance values for both Teflon and phenolic increased with increasing temperature, whereas the values for UHMW polyethylene decreased due to their unique chain structure at the higher temperature. The polymers were chosen because of their widespread engineering interest applications.