Recyclable thermoplastic hexagonal boron nitride composites with high thermal conductivity

Abstract

Polymers have been widely adapted as matrix incorporating relatively heavy but functional fillers to produce more practically useful materials with lighter weights in composite industries. In an engineering perspective, processability, ease of mass production, good interfacial interaction with the filler, and recyclability are crucial aspects of the polymeric matrix. To these ends, we herein describe a recyclable, processable, and also readily mass-producible polymer for including functional model hexagonal boron nitride (hBN) filler. The final composite possessing highly aligned hBN was obtained via simple melt pressing, attributing to a good interfacial interaction between the matrix and the hBN along with shear force generated upon manufacturing the composite. As a consequence, the composite exhibited exceptionally high thermal conductivity of 14 W/mK. To further highlight the versatility of the matrix, the incorporated filler was recovered from the composite by depolymerizing the matrix. The recovered hBN displayed equivalent quality as the stock, thus readily reusable for the future.