Polydopamine‐Stabilized CNTs for Thermal Conduction in Ethylcellulose Aqueous Coatings

ABSTRACT Ethyl cellulose is promising alternative for the traditional petrochemical products. However, the intrinsic low thermal conductivity of ethyl cellulose hinders their application in thermal conductive coatings. To address this issue, the polydopamine (PDA) functionalized multi wall carbon nanotubes (MWCNTs) were introduced into the Surelease (a kind of ethyl cellulose water dispersion) via solution blending to prepare nanocomposites. The morphology, dispersibility, chemical structure, thermal conductive, and thermal stability of the nanocomposites were systematically investigated by Fourier‐transform infrared (FTIR) spectrometer, Field scanning electron microscopy (SEM), and Hot Disk TPS 2500S and thermogravimetric analysis (TGA). The results shown that the polydopamine treated MWCNTs (MWCNTs@PDA) exhibited better dispersion in the film matrix and great interface affinity with the Surelease matrix. The thermal conductivity of MWCNTs@PDA/Surelease (1 wt%) reaches 0.289 W·m −1 ·K −1 . The thermal decomposition temperature at 10 wt% loss increased from 249.86°C (neat Surelease) to 265.32°C by loading 1 wt% MWCNTs@PDA. Therefore, this work provided an environment‐friendly modification and processing technology to prepare high‐performance sustainability aqueous thermal conductive coatings.