High performance phase change thermal interface materials based on porous graphitic carbon spheres-paraffin wax composite

Amorphous carbon sphere precursor with low thermal conductivity was first prepared by hydrothermal reaction of glucose. After treatment with KOH and Fe(NO₃)₃ at high temperature, highly porous and graphitic carbon spheres was obtained. The absorption of paraffin wax increases as the porosity increases, and the thermal conductivity of carbon increases with the graphitic degree. The graphitic degree of the carbon sphere was enhanced more than 90%. Paraffin wax could impregnate into the porous graphitic carbon spheres even more than 5 times mass. The porous graphitic carbon spheres-paraffin wax composite exhibited high thermal conductivity and latent heat as well as good shape stability, which is a promising thermal interface material (TIM).