FINITE ELEMENT SIMULATION OF THERMAL PROPERTIES OF COATED GRAPHITE FLAKE/ALUMINUM MATRIX COMPOSITES
Keywords:
graphite flake/aluminum matrix composites, thermal conductivity, coefficient of thermal expansion, numerical simulation
Abstract
A three-dimensional, multi-scale finite element model was developed to predict the effective thermal conductivity of graphite flake/aluminum composites. The factors influencing the effective thermal conductivity and thermal expansion coefficient of graphite flake/aluminum composites were investigated, including the type and thickness of the coating, temperature, and the volume fraction of graphite flakes. The results indicate that higher thermal conductivity and reduced coating thickness enhance the thermal conductivity of the composites. Taking into account the thermal expansion behavior and coating costs, it is advisable to select a copper coating with a thickness maintained between 1 and 1.5 μm. Temperature fluctuations influence the thermal resistance at the interface and the strength of the bonding. While an increase in temperature can improve thermal conductivity, excessively high temperatures lead to a significant rise in the thermal expansion coefficient, adversely affecting overall performance. The optimal temperature is 300 °C. Copper plating treatment can enhance the thermal conductivity of the composites, and a higher volume fraction of graphite is associated with improved overall thermal performance, which aligns with the experimental results.
References
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24 N. Li, X. M. Du, F. G. Liu, Effect of Copper - Plated Graphene on the Structure and Properties of Aluminum - Matrix Composites, Journal of Shenyang Ligong University, 40(2021) 4, 73-87,doi: 10.3969 /j.issn.1003-1251.
25 Q. Liu, F. Wang, W. Shen, X. Qiu, Z. He, Q. Z. Zhang, Influence of interface thermal resistance on thermal conductivity of SiC/Al composites, Ceramics International, 45(2019) 17, 23815-23819, doi: 10.1016/j.ceramint.2019.07.358.
26 W. Yang, K. Peng, J. Zhu, D. Li, L. Zhou, Enhanced thermal conductivity and stability of diamond/aluminum composite by introduction of carbide interface layer. Diamond and related materials, 46(2014), 35-41, doi: 10.1016/j.diamond.2014.04.007.
27 C. Zhou, W. Huang, Z. Chen, G. Ji, M. L. Wang, D. Chen, H. W. Wang, In-plane thermal enhancement behaviors of Al matrix composites with oriented graphite flake alignment, Composites Part B: Engineering, 70(2015), 256-262, doi: 10.1016/j.compositesb.2014.11.018.
28 L. Zhao, J. Tang, M. Zhou, K. Shen, A review of the coefficient of thermal expansion and thermal conductivity of graphite, New Carbon Materials, 37(2022) 3, 544-555, doi: 10.1016/j.carbon.2022.06.052.
29 N. Burger, A. Laachachi, M. Ferriol, M. Lutz, V. Toniazzo, D. Ruch, Review of thermal conductivity in composites: Mechanisms, parameters and theory. Progress in Polymer Science, 61(2016), 1-28, doi: 10.1016/j.progpolymsci.2016.05.001.
30 K. Dash, S. Sukumaran, B. C. Ray, The behaviour of aluminium matrix composites under thermal stresses, Science and Engineering of Composite Materials, 23(2016) 1, 1-20, doi: 10.1515/secm-2013-0185.
31 Y. Zhao, K. Sugio, Y. Choi, S. Gen, Z. Xu, J. Yu, Effect of anisotropic thermal conductivity of graphite flakes and interfacial thermal resistance on the effective thermal conductivity of graphite flakes/aluminum composites, Materials Transactions, 62(2021) 1, 98-104, doi: 10.2320/matertrans.mt-m2020071.
32 X. Peng, Y. Huang, X. Han, R. Fan, High volume fraction of copper coated graphite flake∖ Nitrogen doped carbon fiber reinforced aluminum matrix composites. Journal of Alloys and Compounds, 822(2020), 153584, doi: 10.1016/j.jallcom.2019.153584.
2 X. H. Qu, L. Zhang, W. U. Mao, S. B. Ren, Review of metal matrix composites with high thermal conductivity for thermal management applications, Progress in Natural Science: Materials International, 21(2011) 3, 189-197. doi: 10.1016/s1002-0071(12)60029-x.
3 S. Ren, Q. Hong, J. Chen, X. He, X. Qu, The influence of matrix alloy on the microstructure and properties of (flake graphite+ diamond)/Cu composites by hot pressing, Journal of Alloys and Compounds, 652(2015), 351-357, doi: 10.1016/j.jallcom.2015.08.191.
4 C. Xue, H. Bai, P. F. Tao, J. W. Wang, N. Jiang, S. L. Wang, Thermal conductivity and mechanical properties of flake graphite/Al composite with a SiC nano-layer on graphite surface, Materials & Design, 108(2016), 250-258, doi: 10.1016/j.matdes.2016.06.122.
5 Y. Huang, Y. Su, X. Guo, Q. Guo, Q. Ouyang, G. Zhang, D. Zhang, Fabrication and thermal conductivity of copper coated graphite film/aluminum composites for effective thermal management. Journal of Alloys and Compounds, 711(2017), 22-30, doi: 10.1016/j.jallcom.2017.03.233.
6 C. Zhou, G. Ji, Z. Chen, M. Wang, A. Addad, D. Schryvers, H. Wang, Fabrication, interface characterization and modeling of oriented graphite flakes/Si/Al composites for thermal management applications, Materials& Design, 63(2014), 719-728, doi: 10.1016/j.matdes.2014.07.009.
7 Q. Liu, X. B. He, S. B. Ren, C. Zhang, L. Ting-Ting, X. H. Qu, Thermophysical properties and microstructure of graphite flake/copper composites processed by electroless copper coating, Journal of Alloys and Compounds, 587(2014), 255-259, doi: 10.1016/j.jallcom.2013.09.207.
8 J. K. Chen, I. S. Huang, Thermal properties of aluminum–graphite composites by powder metallurgy, Composites Part B: Engineering, 44(2013) 1, 698-703, doi: 10.1016/j.compositesb.2012.01.083.
9 C. Guan, Y. Zhao, G. Chen, X. Kai, W. Qian, R. Tao, L. Huang, X. Gao, L. Jin, Synergistic strengthening and toughening of copper coated graphene nanoplates and in situ nanoparticles reinforced AA6111 composites, Materials Science and Engineering: A, 822(2021), 141661. 10.1016/j.msea.2021.141661.
10 N. Trifale, E. Nauman, K. Yazawa, Thermal and mechanical modeling of metal foams for thermal interface application, Journal of Heat Transfer, 138(2016) 7, 072801, doi: 10.1115/1.4032957.
11 X. Han, Y. Huang, Q. Gao, M. Yu, X. Chen, High thermal conductivity and mechanical properties of nanotube@ Cu/Ag@ graphite/aluminum composites, Industrial & Engineering Chemistry Research, 57(2018) 31, 10365-10371, doi: 10.1021/acs.iecr.8b01567.
12 X. Han, Y. Huang, Q. Gao, R. Fan, X. Peng, Effects of nanotube content on thermal and mechanical properties of NT@ Cu/Ag@ GF/Al composites, Journal of Alloys and Compounds, 766 (2018), 594-600, doi: 10.1016/j.jallcom.2018.06.333.
13 J. M. Molina, A. Rodríguez-Guerrero, E. Louis, F. Rodríguez-Reinoso, J. Narciso, Porosity effect on thermal properties of Al-12 wt% Si/graphite composites, Materials, 10(2017) 2, 177, doi: 10.3390/ma10020177.
14 X. Han, Y. Huang, J. Yan, Y. Zhu, X. Gao, Highly thermally conductive nanocomposites synthesized by PVD for thermal management applications, Journal of Alloys and Compounds, 825(2020), 153917, doi: 10.1016/j.jallcom.2020.153917.
15 H. Tong, F. Qiu, R. Zuo, P. Shen, X. Cong, J. Liu, Q. Jiang, RETRACTED: The effect and mechanism of alloying elements on Al/SiC interfacial reaction in Al melt, Applied Surface Science,501(2020) 31, 144265, doi: 10.1016/j.apsusc.2019.144265.
16 A. R. Kennedy, S. M. Wyatt, Characterising particle–matrix interfacial bonding in particulate Al–TiC MMCs produced by different methods, Composites Part A: applied science and manufacturing, 32(2001) 3-4, 555-559, doi: 10.1016/s1359-835x(00)00052-x.
17 Y. Wu, J. Luo, Y. Wang, G. Wang, H. Wang, Z. Yang, G. Ding, Critical effect and enhanced thermal conductivity of Cu-diamond composites reinforced with various diamond prepared by composite electroplating, Ceramics International, 45(2019) 10, 13225-13234, doi: 10.1016/j.ceramint.2019.04.008.
18 Y. Liu, W. Li, Y. Cui, Y. Yang, J. Yang, Theoretical analysis of interfacial design and thermal conductivity in graphite flakes/Al composites with various interfacial coatings, Science and Engineering of Composite Materials, 29(2022) 1, 500-507, doi: 10.1515/secm-2022-0152.
19 Q. Liu, C. Zhang, J. Cheng, F. Wang, Z. Lv, Y. Liu, X. Qu, Modeling of interfacial design and thermal conductivity in graphite flake/Cu composites for thermal management applications, Applied Thermal Engineering, 156 (2019), 351-358, doi: 10.1016/j.applthermaleng.2019.04.063.
20 S. S. Sidhu, S. Kumar, A. Batish, Metal matrix composites for thermal management: A review, Critical Reviews in Solid State and Materials Sciences, 41(2016) 2, 132-157, doi: 10.1080/10408436.2015.1076717.
21 Y. Wang, X. Du, Q. Chi, Numerical Simulation of Thermal Conductivity of Graphene Reinforced Aluminum Matrix Composites. In Journal of Physics: Conference Series, 2459(2023) 1, 012003), IOP Publishing, doi: 10.1088/1742-6596/2459/1/012003.
22 S. L. Omairey, P. D. Dunning, S. Sriramula, Development of an ABAQUS plugin tool for periodic RVE homogenisation, Engineering with Computers, 35(2019), 567-577, doi: 10.1007/s00366-018-0616-4.
23 X. M. Du, Q. B. Chi, Y. Wang, F. G. Liu, Research on Preparation Process and Properties of Graphite Film/Aluminum Composites, Journal of Shenyang Ligong University, 42(2024) 2, 58-63, doi: 10.3969/j.issn.1003-1251.
24 N. Li, X. M. Du, F. G. Liu, Effect of Copper - Plated Graphene on the Structure and Properties of Aluminum - Matrix Composites, Journal of Shenyang Ligong University, 40(2021) 4, 73-87,doi: 10.3969 /j.issn.1003-1251.
25 Q. Liu, F. Wang, W. Shen, X. Qiu, Z. He, Q. Z. Zhang, Influence of interface thermal resistance on thermal conductivity of SiC/Al composites, Ceramics International, 45(2019) 17, 23815-23819, doi: 10.1016/j.ceramint.2019.07.358.
26 W. Yang, K. Peng, J. Zhu, D. Li, L. Zhou, Enhanced thermal conductivity and stability of diamond/aluminum composite by introduction of carbide interface layer. Diamond and related materials, 46(2014), 35-41, doi: 10.1016/j.diamond.2014.04.007.
27 C. Zhou, W. Huang, Z. Chen, G. Ji, M. L. Wang, D. Chen, H. W. Wang, In-plane thermal enhancement behaviors of Al matrix composites with oriented graphite flake alignment, Composites Part B: Engineering, 70(2015), 256-262, doi: 10.1016/j.compositesb.2014.11.018.
28 L. Zhao, J. Tang, M. Zhou, K. Shen, A review of the coefficient of thermal expansion and thermal conductivity of graphite, New Carbon Materials, 37(2022) 3, 544-555, doi: 10.1016/j.carbon.2022.06.052.
29 N. Burger, A. Laachachi, M. Ferriol, M. Lutz, V. Toniazzo, D. Ruch, Review of thermal conductivity in composites: Mechanisms, parameters and theory. Progress in Polymer Science, 61(2016), 1-28, doi: 10.1016/j.progpolymsci.2016.05.001.
30 K. Dash, S. Sukumaran, B. C. Ray, The behaviour of aluminium matrix composites under thermal stresses, Science and Engineering of Composite Materials, 23(2016) 1, 1-20, doi: 10.1515/secm-2013-0185.
31 Y. Zhao, K. Sugio, Y. Choi, S. Gen, Z. Xu, J. Yu, Effect of anisotropic thermal conductivity of graphite flakes and interfacial thermal resistance on the effective thermal conductivity of graphite flakes/aluminum composites, Materials Transactions, 62(2021) 1, 98-104, doi: 10.2320/matertrans.mt-m2020071.
32 X. Peng, Y. Huang, X. Han, R. Fan, High volume fraction of copper coated graphite flake∖ Nitrogen doped carbon fiber reinforced aluminum matrix composites. Journal of Alloys and Compounds, 822(2020), 153584, doi: 10.1016/j.jallcom.2019.153584.
Published
2025-06-04
How to Cite
1.
Shi H, DuX, Li S, Sun Z. FINITE ELEMENT SIMULATION OF THERMAL PROPERTIES OF COATED GRAPHITE FLAKE/ALUMINUM MATRIX COMPOSITES. MatTech [Internet]. 2025Jun.4 [cited 2026Aug.10];59(3):361–371. Available from: https://mater-tehnol.si/index.php/MatTech/article/view/1380
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