Design and Fabrication of Heat Exchangers Using Thermally Conductive Polymer Composite
Polymer heat exchangers (HXs) are lightweight and cost-effective due to the affordability of raw polymer materials. However, the inherently low thermal conductivity (TC) of polymers limits their application in HXs. To enhance thermal conductivity polymer composites, two types of diamond powders, wit...
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| Format: | Article |
| Language: | English |
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MDPI AG
2025-05-01
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| Series: | Applied Mechanics |
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| Online Access: | https://www.mdpi.com/2673-3161/6/2/38 |
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| author | Jian Liu David Cheng Wang Pan Khin Oo Ty-Liyiah McCrimmon Shuang Bai |
| author_facet | Jian Liu David Cheng Wang Pan Khin Oo Ty-Liyiah McCrimmon Shuang Bai |
| author_sort | Jian Liu |
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| description | Polymer heat exchangers (HXs) are lightweight and cost-effective due to the affordability of raw polymer materials. However, the inherently low thermal conductivity (TC) of polymers limits their application in HXs. To enhance thermal conductivity polymer composites, two types of diamond powders, with particle sizes of 0.25 µm and 16.7 µm, were used as fillers, while Acrylonitrile Butadiene Styrene (ABS) served as the matrix. Composite polymer samples were fabricated, and their density and thermal conductivity were tested and compared. The results indicate that fillers with larger particle sizes tend to exhibit higher thermal conductivity. A polymer HX based on a Triply Periodic Minimal Surface (TPMS) structure was designed. The factors influencing the efficiency of polymer HXs were analyzed and compared with those of metal HXs. In polymer HXs, the polymer wall is the primary source of heat resistance. Additionally, the mechanical strength of 3D-printed polymer parts was evaluated. Finally, an HX was successfully fabricated using a polymer composite containing 50 wt% diamond powder via 3D printing. |
| format | Article |
| id | doaj-art-b9cb747e46a94035a088219fe4bc16fb |
| institution | Kabale University |
| issn | 2673-3161 |
| language | English |
| publishDate | 2025-05-01 |
| publisher | MDPI AG |
| record_format | Article |
| series | Applied Mechanics |
| spelling | doaj-art-b9cb747e46a94035a088219fe4bc16fb2025-08-20T03:26:25ZengMDPI AGApplied Mechanics2673-31612025-05-01623810.3390/applmech6020038Design and Fabrication of Heat Exchangers Using Thermally Conductive Polymer CompositeJian Liu0David Cheng1Wang Pan2Khin Oo3Ty-Liyiah McCrimmon4Shuang Bai5PolarOnyx, Inc., 144 Old Lystra Road, Unit 2, Chapel Hill, NC 27517, USAPolarOnyx, Inc., 144 Old Lystra Road, Unit 2, Chapel Hill, NC 27517, USAPolarOnyx, Inc., 144 Old Lystra Road, Unit 2, Chapel Hill, NC 27517, USAPolarOnyx, Inc., 144 Old Lystra Road, Unit 2, Chapel Hill, NC 27517, USAPolarOnyx, Inc., 144 Old Lystra Road, Unit 2, Chapel Hill, NC 27517, USAPolarOnyx, Inc., 144 Old Lystra Road, Unit 2, Chapel Hill, NC 27517, USAPolymer heat exchangers (HXs) are lightweight and cost-effective due to the affordability of raw polymer materials. However, the inherently low thermal conductivity (TC) of polymers limits their application in HXs. To enhance thermal conductivity polymer composites, two types of diamond powders, with particle sizes of 0.25 µm and 16.7 µm, were used as fillers, while Acrylonitrile Butadiene Styrene (ABS) served as the matrix. Composite polymer samples were fabricated, and their density and thermal conductivity were tested and compared. The results indicate that fillers with larger particle sizes tend to exhibit higher thermal conductivity. A polymer HX based on a Triply Periodic Minimal Surface (TPMS) structure was designed. The factors influencing the efficiency of polymer HXs were analyzed and compared with those of metal HXs. In polymer HXs, the polymer wall is the primary source of heat resistance. Additionally, the mechanical strength of 3D-printed polymer parts was evaluated. Finally, an HX was successfully fabricated using a polymer composite containing 50 wt% diamond powder via 3D printing.https://www.mdpi.com/2673-3161/6/2/38thermal conductivitythermally conductive polymer compositesdiamond powderaluminum powderheat exchanger |
| spellingShingle | Jian Liu David Cheng Wang Pan Khin Oo Ty-Liyiah McCrimmon Shuang Bai Design and Fabrication of Heat Exchangers Using Thermally Conductive Polymer Composite Applied Mechanics thermal conductivity thermally conductive polymer composites diamond powder aluminum powder heat exchanger |
| title | Design and Fabrication of Heat Exchangers Using Thermally Conductive Polymer Composite |
| title_full | Design and Fabrication of Heat Exchangers Using Thermally Conductive Polymer Composite |
| title_fullStr | Design and Fabrication of Heat Exchangers Using Thermally Conductive Polymer Composite |
| title_full_unstemmed | Design and Fabrication of Heat Exchangers Using Thermally Conductive Polymer Composite |
| title_short | Design and Fabrication of Heat Exchangers Using Thermally Conductive Polymer Composite |
| title_sort | design and fabrication of heat exchangers using thermally conductive polymer composite |
| topic | thermal conductivity thermally conductive polymer composites diamond powder aluminum powder heat exchanger |
| url | https://www.mdpi.com/2673-3161/6/2/38 |
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