Thermal properties—such as thermal conductivity, thermal diffusivity, and specific heat—of metal (copper, zinc, iron, and bronze) powder-filled high-density polyethylene composites are investigated experimentally in the range of filler content 0-24% by volume. Experimental results show a region of low particle content, 0-16% by volume, where the particles are distributed homogeneously in the polymer matrix and do not interact with each other. In this region most of the thermal conductivity models for two-phase systems are applicable. At higher particle content, the filler tends to form agglomerates and conductive chains resulting in a rapid increase in thermal conductivity.

Article Properties of Iron Powder Filled High Density Polyethylene was published on October 1, 2001 in the journal Journal of Polymer Engineering (volume 21, issue 5).