Anisotropic Thermal Properties of Solid Polymers

This paper discusses the thermal conduction anisotropy in polymers by review- ing currently available theories and experimental methods for studying orieInted polymers. The anisotropic thermal conductivity and diffusivity of orieInted polymers originate from the difference between the thermal energy transport mechanisms parallel and perpendicular to their molecules. Recent progress in the development of experimental techniques for studying the thermal conduction anisotropy of polymer films with thicknesses near 1 +m is discussed in connec- tion with modern microelectronics applications. The data obtained from these techniques are expected to serve for developing sophisticated thermal conduc- tion theories that account for the polymer anisotropy and for performing precise thermal design of organic electronic devices that incorporate highly orieInted polymer structures.