This study investigates the optimization of thermal conductivity of nickel zinc ferrite incorporated thermoplastic natural rubber nanocomposites using response surface methodology (RSM). The experimental runs were based on face-centered central composite design (FCCD) where three levels were designated for both temperature and magnetic filler content. The analysis of variance (ANOVA) results showed that the implemented technique is significant with an F-value of 35.7 and a p-value of <0.0001. Moreover, the statistical inference drawn from the quadratic model suggests a saddle response behavior the thermal conductivity took when both factors were correlated. The factors' optimal set confined within the practical range led to a thermal conductivity of 1.05 W/m·K, a value which is believed to be associated with an optimal percolated network that served as efficacious thermal pathways in the fabricated nanocomposites. These results are believed to contribute to the potential employability of magnetic polymer nanocomposites (MPNCs) in electronic packaging applications.
Keywords: electronic packaging; heat transfer; magnetic nanoparticles; melt compounding; nanocomposites; natural rubber; polymer composites; response surface methodology; thermal conductivity; thermoplastic.