Liquid Crystalline Resin Thermal Conductivity

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Solution Overview

Problem

Current polymer composites with high thermal conductive fillers face reduced thermal conductivity due to phonon scattering through the polymer layer, which is exacerbated by the need for expensive equipment and processes like electromagnetic field application to align liquid crystalline epoxy resins.

Innovation Solution

A high thermal conductive polymer composite is developed using a liquid crystalline resin with a mesogen and linear polymerization reactive groups, cured with benzyl imidazolium hexafluoroantimonate (BIHA) to maintain molecular alignment without external fields, enhancing phonon transfer efficiency.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Temperature

If electromagnetic field application is used to align liquid crystalline epoxy resins, then thermal conductivity is improved, but manufacturing cost and equipment complexity increase

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvethermal conductivityVSAvoidequipment complexity
Core Design Contradiction:
TemperatureVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The patent extracts and eliminates the need for external electromagnetic field application equipment by incorporating the alignment function directly into the resin system through liquid crystalline molecules that self-align during curing, thereby reducing device complexity while maintaining thermal conductivity improvement

Inventive Principle:
Principle #2Taking out (Extraction)

Solution Approach 2:

The liquid crystalline epoxy resin performs self-alignment through its inherent molecular structure during the curing process without requiring external electromagnetic fields, making the system self-sufficient and eliminating complex alignment equipment

Inventive Principle:
Principle #25Self-service

2Temperature

If electromagnetic field application is used to align liquid crystalline epoxy resins, then thermal conductivity is improved, but manufacturing cost increases

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvethermal conductivityVSAvoidmanufacturing cost
Core Design Contradiction:
TemperatureVSEase of manufacture

Solution Approach 1:

The patent removes the requirement for expensive electromagnetic field generation equipment and processes, replacing it with a chemically-driven self-alignment mechanism that uses standard curing procedures already present in manufacturing workflows

Inventive Principle:
Principle #2Taking out (Extraction)

Solution Approach 2:

The invention uses conventional, readily available liquid crystalline epoxy resin materials that align during standard curing processes, replacing the need for expensive specialized equipment and processes with affordable, off-the-shelf materials

Inventive Principle:
Principle #27Cheap short-living objects (Disposable)

3Temperature

If continuous processing is required for electromagnetic field alignment, then thermal conductivity is improved, but productivity decreases

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvethermal conductivityVSAvoidproductivity
Core Design Contradiction:
TemperatureVSProductivity

Solution Approach 1:

The patent merges the alignment function with the existing curing process by utilizing the liquid crystalline phase transition that occurs during standard heating cycles, combining two operations into one continuous process without requiring separate alignment steps

Inventive Principle:
Principle #5Merging (Combining)

Solution Approach 2:

The liquid crystalline molecules are pre-formulated into the epoxy resin system, so that alignment occurs automatically during the subsequent curing process without requiring preliminary separate alignment operations or continuous external field application

Inventive Principle:
Principle #10Preliminary action

Applied Scientific Principles

This section explains which scientific principles are used to turn an abstract innovation direction into a practical engineering solution.

Function Achieved in This Case

This approach achieves a 30% or more improvement in thermal conductivity compared to non-aligned composites, reducing manufacturing costs and eliminating the need for expensive equipment, while maintaining the aligned structure for efficient heat transfer.

Implementation Method 1

Liquid crystal molecules have a mesogen core and can form molecular structures aligned by the core

Methodology Applied
Scientific EffectLiquid crystal molecular alignment: Liquid Crystals

Implementation Method 2

phonons are scattered when heat is transferred through the polymer layer, and the thermal conductivity of the composite is greatly reduced

Methodology Applied
Scientific EffectPhonon transfer: Conduction (thermal)

Data Source

PatentEP3611760B1Composites with enhanced thermal conductivity and method preparing the same
Publication Date: 2022.10.05 KOREA INST OF SCI & TECH
  • EP3611760B1 patent drawingFigure 1A~1B
  • EP3611760B1 patent drawingFigure 2~3A
  • EP3611760B1 patent drawingFigure 3B~3D

AI summary

The present disclosure relates to a high thermal conductive polymer composite, comprising: a liquid crystalline resin comprising a mesogen and at least one linear polymerization reactive group, wherein the liquid crystalline resin is cured with a linear polymerization initiator and includes a molecular structure aligned in at least one direction.