Thermal conductivity of metal matrix composites with coated inclusions: A new modelling approach for interface engineering design in thermal management

Abstract

Despite the importance of interface engineering in technological metal matrix composites, both systematic experimental studies and modelling approaches are still lacking to predict some of their properties. This paper presents an insight into experimental results and modelling of the thermal conductivity in metal matrix composite materials with coated inclusions. Two types of composites of technological importance, Al/diamond and Mg/cobalt, have been interfacially engineered either by deposition of a 0-14.6 μm TiC layer on the diamond particles or by oxidative formation of a 0-21.4 μm Co3O4 layer on the cobalt particles, respectively. The experimental results of thermal conductivity can be properly accounted for by a new modelling approach that consists in a multi-step application of the GDEMS model. This modelling scheme demonstrates a predictive capacity far superior to the few current models available in the literature and allows an accurate calculation of the critical interface thickness, such that it outlines a proper interface engineering tool to design high thermally conductive composite materials.