Commercial off-the-shelf (COTS) electronics are generally not specifically designed to perform in extremely transient high impact scenarios. This research focused on the development of a silver-decorated carbon black-based polymeric nanocomposite with properties such as high conductivity, flexibility, and shock absorbency. Polymeric rubber materials are generally very flexible and shock absorbing, however, most polymeric materials are electrical insulators. The dispersion of the silver-decorated carbon black into the polymeric matrix could significantly improve the electrical conductivity. The processing and fabrication of Ag-CB (silver-carbon black)/Epoxy (thermosetting epoxy polymer) and Ag-CB/TPU (thermoplastic polyurethane) will be reported. Both Ag-CB/Epoxy and Ag-CB/TPU mixtures with solvents showed the shear-thinning behavior, which was an important characteristic for direct printing of traces and Additive Manufacturing (AM). The mechanical properties of the nanocomposites were measured using Dynamic Mechanical Analysis (DMA) over a wide range of temperatures. These nanocomposite materials were also successfully used to print flexible circuits using a 3D-printing machine. The electrical resistance change for the Ag-CB/Epoxy on polydimethylsiloxane (PDMS) and Ag-CB/TPU on PDMS under strain was studied, and the results will be discussed.

In an attempt to study the thermal transport at the interface between nanotubes and graphene, vertically aligned multiwalled carbon nanotubes (CNTs) were grown on graphite thin film substrates. A systematic cross-sectional probing of the materials’ morphology of the interface by scanning electron microscopy and high-resolution transmission electron microscopy revealed that an excellent bond existed between the nanotubes and the substrate along some fraction of interface. Imaging and electron diffraction analyses performed at the boundary reveal a polycrystalline interfacial structure. Compositional probing along the interface by energy dispersive x-ray spectroscopy revealed that there were no catalyst particles or other impurities present. The estimated interfacial thermal resistance of lower than 5–7.5 (mm2K)/W suggests that this type of CNT/graphite interface could open up multiple routes toward the designing and development of advanced thermal interface materials for aerospace and nano-/microelectronics applications.