Thermo-physical Properties and Applications of Copper Nanomaterials with Discrete Morphologies

This thesis focuses on the thermo-physical and photo-thermal properties of composite materials incorporated with metallic copper nanomaterials. We investigate how the particle morphology of the copper nanomaterials affects the thermo-physical properties of its composites in heat transfer fluids (nanofluids) and thermal interface materials (TIMs). While thermal conductivity enhancement is desirable for improvement of heat transfer characteristics, the inevitable alteration of the rheological and mechanical properties of the composite materials can jeopardize their applicability. We demonstrate how tailoring the particle morphology and surface chemical treatment can be utilized to design composite materials for heat transfer applications rationally.