Structural Modeling and Thermal Conductivity of Graphite Film Reinforced Aluminum Matrix Laminated Composites

Abstract: Excellent thermal conductivities of thermal management materials are expected to ensure the timely heat dissipation in lots of engineering applications and electronic devices. High in-plane thermal conductivity of laminated composites has become increasing significant for high energy and power density electronic devices. In this study, the continuous graphite film/aluminum (Gr film/Al) laminated composites were fabricated by vacuum hot pressing. In-plane and out-of-plane thermal conductivity of Gr film/Al laminated composites are tested. Two-dimensional structural models of Gr film/Al laminated composites are established, in which volume fraction, interfacial property, punching zone and orientation angle of Gr films can be controlled according to their actual composite microstructures. The effects of volume fraction and interfacial property on the thermal conductivity of Gr film/Al laminated composites are investigated. Two ways to reduce anisotropy of thermal conductivity are introduction of punching zones and control of Gr orientation, which are verified to be effective. On basis of the analysis above, a good understanding can be brought out for extensive thermal management applications of Gr/Al composites.