In recent years, the field of thermal management materials has seen significant advancements. One such area of focus has been the modification of the surface properties of aluminum powders to improve their thermal performance. As a leader in the production of high-quality nano aluminum powders, SAT NANO has played a key role in these efforts. In this blog post, we will explore the methods and benefits of surface modification of aluminum powder.
Surface Modification Method:
The surface of aluminum powder is treated with various silane coupling agents (SCAs) including Hexadecyltrimethoxysilane, Dodecyltrimethoxysilane, Decyltrimethoxysilane, and Octyltrimethoxysilane. The average size of the aluminum fillers is around 1-2μm. The modification process involves the addition of 180g of aluminum powder to 300ml of anhydrous ethanol and stirring the mixture at room temperature for 2 hours. Subsequently, different SCAs are added to the mixture (5% of the weight of the aluminum powder) along with 15ml of deionized water. The sample is then refluxed and stirred for 5 hours at 75°C. Afterward, the sample is centrifuged at 8000 rpm for 10 minutes and washed repeatedly with anhydrous ethanol to remove any unreacted SCA. The sample is finally placed in a vacuum dryer and dried at 120°C for 5 hours.
Testing and Characterization:
Several techniques are used to analyze the properties of the modified aluminum fillers, including Scanning electron microscopy (SEM), X-Ray diffraction analysis (XRD), Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy (FT-IR), Thermogravimetric analysis (TGA), and Contact angle measurement. The test results reveal significant enhancements in the thermal, mechanical, and chemical properties of the modified fillers.
Modification Effect:
The surface-treated aluminum fillers show a significant improvement in the overall performance of thermal interface materials. The viscosity of the fillers decreases by 77%, the fracture elongation increases up to 154.71%, and the thermal conductivity also improves. The thermal stability of the material improves by approximately 20% under severe thermal cycling conditions. Additionally, the reduced surface energy of the aluminum fillers facilitates better dispersion when used in silicone-based composites. The type of SCA used for surface modification has a significant impact on the dispersion of the fillers and the performance of the composite. The aluminum fillers treated with Dodecyltrimethoxysilane show the best overall performance.
Conclusion:
In conclusion, the surface modification of aluminum powder proves to be an effective method for enhancing the thermal, mechanical, and chemical properties of thermal interface materials. SAT NANO has emerged as a leader in the production of high-quality aluminum powders, and its innovative research in surface modification has contributed to the advancements in the field of thermal management technology. With the constant efforts of researchers, we can expect further progress in this domain, leading to the development of highly efficient and cost-effective thermal interface materials. We can offer aluminum powder 100nm, 1-3um, 10-50um particle, if you have any enquiry, please feel free to contact us at sales03@satnano.com
