Anisotropic thermal properties of solid polymers

This paper discusses the thermal conduction anisotropy in polymers by revie wing currently available theories and experimental methods for studying ori ented polymers. Thr anisotropic thermal conductivity and diffusivity of ori ented polymers originate from the difference between the thermal energy tra nsport mechanisms parallel and perpendicular to their molecules. Recent pro gress in the development of experimental techniques for studying the therma l conduction anisotropy of polymer films with thicknesses near 1 mum is dis cussed in connection with modern microelectronics applications. The data ob tained fi-om these techniques are expected to serve for developing sophisti cated thermal conduction theories that account for tile polymer anisotropy and for performing precise thermal design of organic electronic devices tha t incorporate highly oriented polymer structures.