Heat transfer properties of cord-reinforced rubber composites

In this article the results of the measurements of thermal diffusivity, thermal conductivity, and specific heat of some rubber compounds reinforced with polyamide textile cords (nylon cords) are presented. For thermal diffusivity the relationship between this quantity and temperature was measured within the temperature range 20-170 degrees C. Both type and arrangement of reinforcement and matrix composition have an effect on thermal properties. For the heat flow perpendicular to the fiber direction, the rate of heat conduction is limited by the properties of the matrix. In this case, thermal properties of composites are approaching the properties of this component. Thermal diffusivity and thermal conductivity increase with the number of twists per I in of cord length because of the effect of thermal contact resistance in textile cords on the thermal properties perpendicular to the fiber direction. The thermal diffusivity parallel to the fiber direction is compared with the thermal diffusivity perpendicular to the fiber direction and to the thermal diffusivity of the matrix.