Thermal interface material and method for making the same

A method for manufacturing a thermal interface material, the method comprising the steps of:

• providing a plurality of thermally conductive fibers synthesized using polymer and thermally conductive materials;
• aligning the thermally conductive fibers uniformly and directionally to form an array of the thermally conductive fibers;
• immersing the array of thermally conductive fibers into a liquid macromolecular material;
• and
• solidifying the liquid macromolecular material to obtain a macromolecular matrix having two opposite surfaces with the thermally conductive fibers embedded therein, the thermally conductive fibers extending from one surface to another opposite surface;
• wherein the thermally conductive fiber is a carbon nanotube and polymer composite fiber and a method for synthesizing the carbon nanotube and polymer composite fiber comprises:
• supplying a polyurethane solution into a container filled with an acetic acid ethyl ester solution;
• adding carbon nanotubes to the container to obtain a mixture, and distributing the mixture in an ultrasonic processor;
• placing the mixture into a dish filled with de-ionized water;
• and obtaining a piece of carbon nanotube/acetic acid ethyl ester composite fiber from a surface of the mixture.