This paper describes a closed-form unit cell micromechanical model for estimating the effective thermal conductivities of unidirectional carbon nanotube reinforced polymer nanocomposites. The model incorporates the typically observed misalignment and curvature of carbon nanotubes into the polymer nanocomposites. Also, the interfacial thermal resistance between the carbon nanotube and the polymer matrix is considered in the nanocomposite simulation. The micromechanics model is seen to produce reasonable agreement with available experimental data for the effective thermal conductivities of polymer nanocomposites reinforced with different carbon nanotube volume fractions. The results indicate that the thermal conductivities are strongly dependent on the waviness wherein, even a slight change in the carbon nanotube curvature can induce a prominent change in the polymer nanocomposite thermal conducting behavior. In general, the carbon nanotube curvature improves the nanocomposite thermal conductivity in the transverse direction. However, using the straight carbon nanotubes leads to maximum levels of axial thermal conductivities. With the increase in carbon nanotube diameter, an enhancement in nanocomposite transverse thermal conductivity is observed. Also, the results of micromechanical simulation show that it is necessary to form a perfectly bonded interface if the full potential of carbon nanotube reinforcement is to be realized.
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