Improving thermal conductivity of butylpyridine latex‐based composites by modified single‐layer graphene

Abstract Chelated titanate (CT) modified single‐layer graphene (CTMSG), exhibiting much better static and dynamic stability due to the synergy of physical and chemical bonds, was mixed with butadiene‐vinylpyridine latex (BL) to prepare composite (CTMSG‐BL) film to enhance its thermal conductivity. Furthermore, CTMSG‐BL was complexed with polyethylene terephthalate (PET) fabric to promote the thermal conductivity of the composite (CTMSG‐BL/PET). Compared with the samples without CTMSG, the thermal conductivity of CTMSG‐BL (CTMSG content: 0.2 wt%) and CTMSG‐BL/PET increased from 3.52 to 4.35 W/(m·K) and from 1.91 to 2.56 W/(m·K), improved by 19.1% and 34.0%. This benefits from the excellent orientation alignment of single‐layer graphene (SG) in BL film and the highly efficient construction of the thermal conductivity pathway. The CTMSG‐BL emulsion is suitable for preparing heat‐resistant thermal conductive film with a thickness of micro‐nano meter (~0.6 μm) by impregnation process because of the low viscosity of the CTMSG‐BL emulsion (3.61 mPa·s) and the good heat resistance of the pyridine groups of BL with average pyrolysis temperature about 444 °C. The CTMSG‐BL film and CTMSG‐BL/PET composites have excellent heat conduction and dissipation properties, exhibiting broad application prospects in thermal interface materials, aerospace, and transport. Highlights The static and dynamic stability of the CTMSG was significantly improved. Low viscosity CTMSG‐BL is suitable for preparing thermally conductive films. With the addition of CTMSG, the thermal conductivity of BL improved by 19.0%. With addition of CTMSG, the thermal conductivity of BL/PET improved by 34%.