Phase-change epoxy composites capable of two-phase heat absorption for efficient thermal management

In this study, a new phase-change material (PCM) was developed using lauric acid-grafted epoxy and erythritolgrafted epoxy (LAETEP), which was further enhanced with the addition of expanded graphite (EG). The resulting composites demonstrated impressive thermal properties, including a high through-plane thermal conductivity of 3.37 W/mK and a latent heat of 79.47 J/g, along with a 750 % improvement in tensile stress. The composites also exhibited a unique two-step endothermic reaction, occurring between 32 and 42 degrees C and 95-120 degrees C, effectively preventing rapid temperature increases in the applied device. When applied to a light-emitting diode (LED) module, these PCM composites provided notable heat buffering capabilities due to their substantial latent heat, a feature that sets them apart from conventional conductive polymer composites. As a result, the LAETEP/EG-OH composites offer efficient thermal management, combining heat retention and dissipation thanks to their high latent heat and thermal conductivity. This makes the synthesized PCM composites particularly promising for use in thermal management systems in electronic devices.