Choi, Woo Seong Yoo, Gyun Young Kim, Ki Hoon Kim, Sung Jin Jung, Yong Chae Kim, Seong Yun 2025-06-19T02:30:14Z 2025-06-19T02:30:14Z 2025-06-17 2025-07 2238-7854 https://pubs.kist.re.kr/handle/201004/152635 There is an increasing demand for battery pack housing materials that offer lightweight, mechanical, and thermal insulation properties to prevent thermal runaway caused by external mechanical and/or thermal stimuli. In this study, by applying a polypropylene (PP) chain-length control strategy to impregnate micropores between carbon fibers (CFs) and to maintain nanopores within the incorporated silica aerogel (SA), a CF reinforced thermoplastic (CFRTP) with superior thermal insulation properties was proposed. The PP chain length, used as matrix, was identified as the most important structural factor determining the extent of CF impregnation and preservation of the SA nanopore structure. Additionally, the optimized CFRTP, in which SA nanopores were preserved and CF was well-impregnated, exhibited excellent thermal insulation with a value of 0.045 W/m·K. The excellent thermal insulation properties of the proposed CFRTP make it a promising candidate for applications in electric vehicle battery pack enclosures. English Elsevier Editora Ltda Tailoring thermal insulation in carbon fiber reinforced composites: Pore-preserved aerogels and thermoplastic matrix engineering Article 10.1016/j.jmrt.2025.06.067 1 Journal of Materials Research and Technology, v.37, pp.893 - 902 Journal of Materials Research and Technology 37 893 902 Y scie scopus 001514452000008 Materials Science, Multidisciplinary Metallurgy & Metallurgical Engineering Materials Science Metallurgy & Metallurgical Engineering Article POLYPROPYLENE CRYSTALLIZATION CONFORMATION IMPREGNATION Polymer matrix composites Carbon fibers Silica aerogel Thermal conductivity