High Thermal Conductivity Metal Matrix Composites

Metal matrix composites (MMCs) reinforced with vapor-grown carbon fiber (VGCF) may offer thermal conductivity superior to materials currently used for thermal management while also providing an adjustable coefficient of thermal expansion (CTE) and low density.

Extrapolating from results on aluminum MMC with lower loadings of VGCF suggest that aluminum and copper MMCs can attain a best-direction conductivity in excess of 1000 W/m-K. Alternatively, isotropic in-plane conductivity may reach up to 800 W/m-K, while matching the CTE of important semiconducting materials.