THERMAL CONDUCTION IN CR3C2/SIC COMPOSITE

Thermal conduction behaviour of Cr3C2/SiC composite is investigated in terms of temperature and SIC content. Experimental results showed that thermal diffusivity of the composite increases with SiC content up to 20 vol %, corresponding to a conductivity maximum, then decreases with further increase of SiC. The reduction in diffusivity and conductivity at higher SiC content may due to formation of small amounts of solid solution at the interface and/or of interfacial gaps due to lack of perfect contact among SiC aggregates leading to increased phonon scattering. The thermal conductivity demonstrates a positive temperature dependence but becomes temperature-independent when SIC content is above 30 vol %. A correlation with composite theory is present.