The thermal conductivity of pressure infiltrated SiCp/Al composites with various size distributions: Experimental study and modeling

High volume fractions (56-65 vol.%) of SiCp/Al composites with various size distributions were prepared by powder injection molding (PIM) and pressure infiltration. An equivalent diameter approach for the thermal conductivity of the composites with a multimodal size distribution is proposed in the framework of Hasselman-Johnson model. Results of the present model are compared to an existing model of differential effective medium approach and experimental data. Both models give very close predictions, which reveal good correspondence with the experimental results. What is more important is that the present modal provides a handy and useful tool in judging whether the composites with multimodal particle mixtures acquire a suitable distribution design to improve their thermal conduction properties. (C) 2009 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.