Highly Thermally Conductive Yet Flexible Composite of Carbon Fiber, Carbon Nanotube, and Rubber Obtained by Decreasing the Thermal Resistivity at the Interface between Carbon Fiber and Carbon Nanotube†

Thermal management of personal computer and other devices are critical issue for stable operation. Especially, soft and high thermal conductive materials are widely required for thermal transfer from heat source to heat sink. In this study, we prepared high thermal conductive composite with long single wall carbon nanotube, pitch-derived carbon fiber and fluorinated rubber. Thermal conductivity of the composites is up to 80WmK(-1) which is higher than that of iron or brass. Furthermore, origin of the high thermal conductivity of the composites is investigated by using Weidman-Franz low. Carbon nanotubes enhance phonon thermal transfer between carbon fiber to carbon fiber.