Thermal conductivity of carbon-reinforced metal-matrix composites

The paper presents a critical analysis of the current state-of-the-art thermo-physical properties of metal composite materials, in which different types of carbon reinforcing phase have been used: graphite, diamond, carbon fibres, carbon nanotubes, fullerene, graphene and graphene oxide.
These materials must possess high thermal conductivity (above 300 W·(m·K)^-1), thermal expansion similar to that of the material from which the heat is removed (4-9 × 10-6·K^-1), low electric conductivity, high erosion resistance of the electric arc, as well as low and stable contact resistance. The application of various types of carbon reinforcement with a structure of the 2D type, such as carbon nanotubes, fullerenes, graphene or graphene oxide, opens new possibilities in the field of the formation of thermo-physical properties, including thermal conductivity. Unfortunately, advanced metal composites reinforced with a 2D type carbon phase are still rarely used, due to the unsolved technological problems connected with joining the metal matrix with the 2D type carbon phase, which results in unsatisfactory thermal conductivity of these materials as well as a complicated production process and a high price.

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