Polymer composite with liquid phase metal inclusions
AssigneeCARNEGIE MELLON UNIVERSITY, a Pennsylvania Non-Profit Corporation
InventorsCarmel Majidi, Andrew Fassler, Michael Bartlett, Navid Kazem, Matthew J. Powell-Palm, Jonathan A. Malen
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Abstract
Disclosed herein is a composite comprising an elastomer with an embedded network of liquid metal inclusions. The composite retains similar flexibility to that of an elastomer but exhibits electrical and thermal properties that differ from the properties of a homogeneous elastomer. The composite has applications for wearable devices and other soft matter electronics, among others.
Claims31
A composite having improved thermal conductivity comprising:
- a polymer, and
- a plurality of droplets comprising a liquid metal dispersed within the polymer,
- wherein each droplet of the plurality of droplets consists of a metal oxide skin and a liquid metal interior,
- wherein the composite is soft and has a strain limit of at least 100%,
- wherein the composite is electrically non-conductive.
A thermally conductive composite comprising:
- an elastic polymer;
- and
- a liquid metal uniformly distributed within the elastic polymer,
- wherein the liquid metal forms a plurality of randomly distributed fluidic microstructures within the elastic polymer, each microstructure of the plurality of microstructures consisting of a metal oxide skin and a liquid metal interior,
- wherein the composite is soft.
A thermally conductive composite comprising:
- an elastic polymer;
- and
- a liquid metal uniformly distributed within the elastic polymer,
- wherein the liquid metal forms a plurality of fluidic microstructures within the elastic polymer, each microstructure of the plurality of microstructures consisting of a metal oxide skin and a liquid metal interior,
- wherein the liquid metal has a viscosity of less than 3 mPa·s, and
- wherein the composite is soft.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.