Thermal Conductivity and Microstructure of Copper Coated Graphite Composite by Spark Plasma Sintering Process

Abstract

This study focuses on the fabrication of thermal management material for power electronics applications using graphite flake reinforced copper composites. The manufacturing route involved electroless plating of copper in the graphite flake and sintering process are optimized. The microstructures, interface, thermal properties, and relative density of graphite/Cu composites are investigated. The relative density of the composites shows 99.5% after sintering. Thermal conductivities and coefficients of thermal expansion of this composites were 400-480 Wm−1K−1 and 8 to 5 ppm k−1, respectively. Obtained graphite nanoplatelets-reinforced composites exhibit excellent thermo-physical properties to meet the heat dispersion and matching requirements of power electronic devices to the packaging materials.

Keywords

• Metal matrix composites
• Thermal conductivity
• Thermal expansion
• Interfacial bonding
• Spark plasma sintering