Thermal conductivity of SiC fine particles reinforced Al alloy matrix composite with dispersed particle size

The thermal conductivity of 10, 20, 30, and 40 vol % silicon-carbide-particulate-reinforced aluminum matrix composite was determined as a function of the volume fraction of SiC. The microstructures of the composites were examined with a scanning electron microscope. The size distributions of SiC particles were obtained by analyzing the micrographs. The interfacial thermal conductance was calculated with consideration of the particle size distribution. Both the thermal conductivity and interfacial thermal conductance decreased as the volume fraction of SiC increased.