Methods for increasing the thermal conductivity of ultra-high molecular weight polyethylene (UHMWPE)

A two-part study was conducted to determine methods for producing ultra-high molecular weight polyethylene with high thermal conductivity by way of polymer chain orientation. The first portion of this report surveys current research involving polyethylene chain orientation and manufacturing. This section includes analysis of shish-kebab morphology, past polymer thermal studies, self-reinforcement studies, manufacturing techniques, and experimental techniques for low thermal conductivity materials. The second portion reviews the results of an experiment conducted to test the feasibility of stretched thermoforming of UHMW-polyethylene. Sheets of UHMWPE were stretched and tested for anisotropy in thermal conductivity. For samples with draw ratios of X 10, anisotropy in thermal conductivity was observed to increase. These results show potential for future development of this proposed methodology.

Department dc:contributor.department

Massachusetts Institute of Technology. Department of Mechanical Engineering

Grantor dc:publisher

Massachusetts Institute of Technology

Year dc:date.issued

2006

Author dc:creator

• Miler, Josef L

Advisor dc:contributor.advisor

• Gang Chen.

• Mechanical Engineering.

Statement dc:rights

• M.I.T. theses are protected by copyright. They may be viewed from this source for any purpose, but reproduction or distribution in any format is prohibited without written permission. See provided URL for inquiries about permission.

Licence dc:rights.uri

• http://dspace.mit.edu/handle/1721.1/7582

Language dc:language.iso

eng

Handle dc:identifier.uri

http://hdl.handle.net/1721.1/36291

OAI identifier oai:identifier

oai:dspace.mit.edu:1721.1/36291