Interfacial thermal conductance of in situ aluminum-matrix nanocomposites

Thermal performance of Al nanocomposites is of significance for broad applications. In this study, we successfully fabricated Al-TiC, Al-ZrB2, and Al-TiB2 nanocomposites via a novel in situ molten-salt-assisted method and systematically investigated their thermal properties, including thermal diffusivity, heat capacity, and thermal conductivity. Different contributions from electron and phonon have been semi-quantitatively decoupled for interfacial thermal transport in these Al-based nanocomposites. Then, the interfacial thermal conductance between aluminum and the electrically conductive TiC, ZrB2, and TiB2 nanoparticles was quantitatively studied and compared with existing models. An engineering model of the interfacial thermal conductance has been proposed and validated. It was confirmed that a higher interfacial separation energy and more effective interfacial bonding by better wettability can be conducive to a higher interfacial thermal transport.

Automated summary

In this study, thermal properties of Al nanocomposites were investigated, including thermal diffusivity, heat capacity, and thermal conductivity. The interfacial thermal conductance between aluminum and various nanoparticles was quantitatively analyzed, and an engineering model for interfacial thermal transport was proposed and validated, showing the importance of interfacial separation energy and bonding for effective thermal transport.