Thermally conducting aluminum nitride polymer-matrix composites

Thermally conducting, but electrically insulating, polymer-matrix composites that exhibit low values of the dielectric constant and the coefficient of thermal expansion (CTE) are needed for electronic packaging. For developing such composites, this work used aluminum nitride whiskers (and/or particles) and/or silicon carbide whiskers as fillers(s) and polyvinylidene fluoride (PVDF) or epoxy as matrix. The highest thermal conductivity of 11.5 W/(m K) was attained by using PVDF, AlN whiskers and AlN particles (7 μm), such that the total filler volume fraction was 60% and the AlN whisker–particle ratio was 1:25.7. When AlN particles were used as the sole filler, the thermal conductivity was highest for the largest AlN particle size (115 μm), but the porosity increased with increasing AlN particle size. The thermal conductivity of AlN particle epoxy-matrix composite was increased by up to 97% by silane surface treatment of the particles prior to composite fabrication. The increase in thermal conductivity is due to decrease in the filler–matrix thermal contact resistance through the improvement of the interface between matrix and particles. At 60 vol.% silane-treated AlN particles only, the thermal conductivity of epoxy-matrix composite reached 11.0 W/(m K). The dielectric constant was quite high (up to 10 at 2 MHz) for the PVDF composites. The change of the filler from AlN to SiC greatly increased the dielectric constant. Combined use of whiskers and particles in an appropriate ratio gave composites with higher thermal conductivity and low CTE than the use of whiskers alone or particles alone. However, AlN addition caused the tensile strength, modulus and ductility to decrease from the values of the neat polymer, and caused degradation after water immersion.     

SiCp/Al复合材料的SPS烧结及热物理性能研究

采用纯粉末, 通过SPS烧结制备了组织均匀、致密且体积分数高的SiCp/Al电子封装材料. 通过对SPS烧结现象的研究, 认为该复合材料的SPS烧结过程属于反应性烧结, 大部分收缩在极短时间内完成; 另外对SiC体积分数和SiC颗粒尺寸对热导率、热膨胀系数的影响进行了研究, 发现SiC体积分数越高, 复合材料的热导率和热膨胀系数越低; SiC颗粒粒径增大, 复合材料的热导率增高, 而热膨胀系数减小.     

Thermal expansion coefficient and wear performance of aluminium/SiC composites with bimodal particle distributions

Abstract

High volume fraction metal matrix composites were produced by infiltration of liquid aluminium into preforms made by mixing and packing SiC particulates having two different average diameters (170 and 16 μm). The maximum particle volume fraction (0.74) was attained for a mixture containing 67% of coarse particles. The variation of particle volume fraction with percentage of coarse particles can be reasonably well understood in terms of a simple model. Experimental results for the threshold pressure indicate that it is mainly determined by the local volume fraction of fine particles, a result which is shown to be compatible with the model used to estimate the particle volume fraction. On the other hand, the coefficient of thermal expansion (CTE) is mainly determined by the total particle volume fraction of the composite. Wear performance was evaluated through sliding wear of the composite against a static alumina ball. The results indicate that, in this case, the key parameter is the coarse particle content of the composite.     

一种新的β-锂霞石增强铜基复合材料热性能

采用热压烧结工艺成功制备了一种新的β-锂霞石增强铜基复合材料.利用扫描电镜和透射电镜对复合材料的微观组织进行了分析,并对不同体积分数复合材料的致密性,热膨胀性能和热传导性能进行了测试.结果表明:β-锂霞石颗粒在铜基体中分布均匀,界面清晰,不发生界面反应;体积分数对复合材料致密性、热膨胀系数和热导率有明显影响,当β-锂霞石颗粒体积分数超过40%时,复合材料的致密性有明显下降,热膨胀系数在(9～15.4)×10-6/K,同时热导率在50～170W/m·K.     

碳化硅纳米线增强多孔碳化硅陶瓷基复合材料的制备

构建多孔碳化硅纳米线(SiCNWs)网络并控制化学气相渗透(CVI)过程,可设计并获得轻质、高强度和低导热率SiC复合材料。首先将SiCNWs和聚乙烯醇(PVA)混合,制备具有最佳体积分数(15.6%)和均匀孔隙结构的SiCNWs网络;通过控制CVI参数获得具有小而均匀孔隙结构的SiCNWs增强多孔SiC(SiCNWs/SiC)陶瓷基复合材料。SiC基体形貌受沉积参数(如温度和反应气体浓度)的影响,从球状颗粒向六棱锥颗粒形状转变。SiCNWs/SiC陶瓷基复合材料的孔隙率为38.9%时,强度达到(194.3±21.3) MPa,导热系数为(1.9 ± 0.1) W/(m∙K),显示出增韧效果,并具有低导热系数。     

石墨表面镀Si对石墨/Al复合材料热物理性能的影响

研究了石墨粒径及表面镀Si处理对石墨/Al复合材料热物理性能的影响。结果表明:在盐浴过程中石墨表面形成了SiC层,这不仅增强了石墨-Si/Al复合材料的界面结合力,而且抑制了Al4C3相的产生。随着石墨鳞片体积分数从50%增加到70%,复合材料X-Y方向的热导率从492 W/(m·K)增加到654 W/(m·K),而且体积分数为50%的镀Si石墨/Al复合材料抗弯强度达到了81 MPa,相比未镀覆的提高了53%,是理想的定向导热电子封装材料。随着石墨粒径从500μm减小到150μm,石墨-Si/Al复合材料X-Y面方向的热导率由654 W/(m·K)降低到445 W/(m·K),但Z方向的热导率和复合材料抗弯强度变化不明显。     

Experimental and modeling study of the thermal conductivity of SiC<Subscript>p</Subscript>/Al composites with bimodal size distribution

The thermal conductivity of SiC_p/Al composites with high volume fractions of 46 to 68% has been investigated. The composites were fabricated by pressureless infiltrating liquid aluminum into SiC preforms with monomodal and bimodal size distributions. The density measurement indicates that a small amount of pores is presented for the composites approaching their maximum volume fractions. An analytical model with an explicit expression is proposed for describing the thermal conductive behavior of the composites with multimodal-reinforced mixtures in terms of an effective medium approach taking into account the porosity effect. Predictions of the developed effective medium expression reveal good correspondence with the experimental results, and explore how each of the considered factors (i.e., particle size ratio, volume fraction ratio, and porosity) can have a significant effect on the thermal conductivity of the composites with bimodal mixtures.     

Mechanical properties of a diamond–copper composite with high thermal conductivity

Using pressureless infiltration of copper into a bed of coarse (180 μm) diamond particles pre-coated with tungsten, a composite with a thermal conductivity of 720 W/(m K) was prepared. The bending strength and compression strength of the composite were measured as 380 MPa. As measured by sound velocity, the Young's modulus of the composite was 310 GPa. Model calculations of the thermal conductivity, the strength and elastic constants of the copper–diamond composite were carried out, depending on the size and volume fraction of filler particles. The coincidence of the values of bending strength and compressive strength and the relatively high deformation at failure (a few percent) characterize the fabricated diamond–copper composite as ductile. The properties of the composite are compared to the known analogues — metal matrix composites with a high thermal conductivity having a high content of filler particles (~ 60 vol.%). In strength and ductility our composite is superior to diamond–metal composites with a coarse filler; in thermal conductivity it surpasses composites of SiC–Al, W–Cu and WC–Cu, and dispersion-strengthened copper.     

Thermal properties of diamond/SiC/Al composites with high volume fractions

The diamond/SiC/Al composites with high volume fractions and a large ratio of diamond to SiC particle size (7.8:1) were fabricated by gas pressure infiltration. The results show that the fine SiC particles occupy efficiently the interstitial positions around coarse diamond particles; the main fracture mechanism of the composite is matrix ductile fracture, and diamond brittle fracture was observed which confirms a high interfacial bonding strength; the diamond/SiC/Al composites with 80% and 66.7% volume fraction of diamond in the reinforcement have the higher volume fraction in the reinforcement and lower coefficient of thermal expansion compared to the diamond/Al composite. Turner and Kerner models are not in good agreement with the experimental data for the composites based on reinforcement with two phases different in shape and component. When the effect of the coating layer considered, differential effective medium (DEM) model is confirmed a reliable model in designing a composite with a given thermal conductivity based on reinforcement with two phases different in size.     

两种粒径颗粒混合增强铝基复合材料的导热性能

选用粒径为20μm 和60μm 的SiC 颗粒, 采用挤压铸造方法制备了基体分别为工业纯铝L2 、LD11(Al-12 %Si) 和AlSi20 (Al-(18～21) %Si) 的复合材料, 研究了材料的导热性能。在等比表面积的基础上, 提出了等效颗粒直径的概念, 解决了两种粒径颗粒混合增强铝基复合材料导热率的预测问题。结果表明, SiC_P/ Al 复合材料具有较为优异的导热率, 且LD11 基与AlSi20 基复合材料的导热率大于基体合金的导热率, 这与颗粒的等效直径大于临界粒径且颗粒导热率大于基体导热率有关;但复合材料的导热率随着基体中Si 含量的增加而降低。     

Dry wear properties of A356-SiC particle reinforced MMCs produced by two melting routes

SiC particle reinforced metal matrix composites (MMCs) were produced by a common liquid phase technique in two melting routes. In the first route, 5, 10, 15 and 20 vol% SiC reinforced A356-based MMCs were produced. In the second route, an Alcan A356 + 20 vol% SiC composite was diluted to obtain 5, 10, 15 and 20 vol% SiC MMCs. In both cases the average particle size was 12 μm. The composites that produced by two different routes were aimed to compare the dry wear resistance properties. A dry ball-on disk wear test was carried out for both groups of MMCs and their matrix materials. The tests were performed against a WC ball, 4.6 mm in diameter, at room temperature and in laboratory air conditions with a relative humidity of 40–60%. Sliding speed was chosen as 0.4 m/s and normal loads of 1, 2, 3 and 5 N were employed. The sliding distance was kept at 1000 m. The wear damage on the specimens was evaluated via measurement of wear depth and diameter. A complete wear microstructural characterization was carried out via scanning electron microscopy. The wear behaviors were recorded nearly similar for both groups of composites. Diluted samples showed lower friction coefficient values compared with the friction coefficient values of the vortex-produced composites. This was attributed poor bonding between matrix and particles in the vortex-produced composites associated with high porosities. But, in general, diluted Alcan composites showed slightly lower wear rate relationship with the particle volume percent and applied load when compared with vortex produced materials.     

Interfacial microstructure and its effect on thermal conductivity of SiCp/Cu composites

Thermal conductivity of SiCp/Cu composites was usually far below the expectation, which is usually attributed to the low real thermal conductivity of matrix. In the present work, highly pure Cu matrix composites reinforced with acid washed SiC particles were prepared by the pressure infiltration method. The interfacial microstructure of SiCp/Cu composites was characterized by layered interfacial products, including un-reacted SiC particles, a Cu–Si layer, a polycrystalline C layer and Cu–Si matrix. However, no Cu₃Si was found in the present work, which is evidence for the hypothesis that the formation of Cu₃Si phase in SiC/Cu system might be related to the alloying elements in Cu matrix and residual Si in SiC particles. The thermal conductivity of SiCp/Cu composites was slightly increased with the particle size from 69.9 to 78.6 W/(m K). Due to high density defects, the real thermal conductivity of Cu matrix calculated by H–J model was only about 70 W/(m K). The significant decrease in thermal conductivity of Cu matrix is an important factor for the low thermal conductivity of SiCp/Cu composites. However, even considered the significant decrease of thermal conductivity of Cu matrix, theoretical values of SiCp/Cu composites calculated by H–J model were still higher than the experimental results. Therefore, an ideal particle was introduced in the present work to evaluate the effect of interfacial thermal resistance. The reverse-deduced effective thermal conductivities of ideal particles according to H–J model was about 80 W/(m K). Therefore, severe interfacial reaction in SiCp/Cu composites also leads to the low thermal conductivity of SiCp/Cu composites.     

BN表面沉积纳米Sn对BN/环氧树脂复合材料导热绝缘性能的影响

采用液相还原法,制备了BN表面沉积纳米Sn粒子(BN-Sn NPs)杂化材料,用于环氧树脂(EP)的导热绝缘填料。BN-Sn NPs表面纳米Sn的粒径和熔点分别为10~30 nm 和166.5~195.3℃。BN表面沉积纳米Sn后,粉体Zeta电位及压片的导热系数增加,EP滴在压片表面的接触角降低。在BN-Sn NPs/EP复合材料固化过程中,BN-Sn NPs表面纳米Sn熔融烧结,有利于填料相互桥联在一起,降低接触热阻,并改善界面性能,从而提高BN-Sn NPs/EP复合材料的导热系数。当填料体积含量为30vol%时,BN-Sn NPs/EP复合材料的导热系数达1.61 W(m·K)?1,比未改性BN/EP复合材料的导热系数(1.08 W(m·K)?1)提高了近50%。Monte Carlo法模拟表明,BN和BN-Sn NPs在EP基体中的接触热阻(R_c)分别为6.1×106 K·W?1和3.7×106 K·W?1。与未改性BN/EP复合材料相比,BN-Sn NPs/EP复合材料的介质损耗增加,介电强度及体积电阻率降低,但仍具有良好电绝缘性能。      

Temperature dependence of fracture toughness of silica/epoxy composites: Related to microstructure of nano- and micro-particles packing

Temperature dependence of the fracture toughness of epoxy composites reinforced with nano- and micro-silica particles was evaluated. Epoxy composites containing varied composition ratios Φ_SP of spherical nano- and micro-silica particles, 240 nm and 1.56 μm, were prepared at a fixed volume fraction (V_P = 0.30). The thermo-viscoelasticity and fracture toughness of the composites and neat epoxy were measured at 143 K, 185 K, 228 K, 296 K, 363 K, and 399 K. Experimental results revealed that fracture toughness strongly depended on the microstructure of nano- and micro-particles bidispersion as well as its interactions with the matrix at all temperature, but depended on toughened matrix due to increase in mobility of matrix at the relaxation temperatures.     

BN/HDPE导热塑料的热导率

用粉末混合法制备了氮化硼增强高密聚乙烯塑料,研究了材料内部填料分散状态,填料含量,基体粒径和温度对热导率的影响。结果表明,材料中填料粒子围绕在聚乙烯粒子周围,形成了特殊的网状导热通路;增大填料用量和基体粒径,热导率升高;填料体积用量为30%时体系热导率达0.96 W/m.K,是基体热导率的3倍多。用Y.Agari模型分析了基体粒径对形成导热通路的影响。此外,使用氧化铝短纤维和氮化硼混杂填料能获得更高的热导率。     

Dynamic crack growth in particulate bimaterials having discrete and diffuse interfaces: Role of microstructure

Role of microstructure on interfacial crack growth in particulate bimaterials made of glass particle reinforced epoxy is examined experimentally. Two types of bimaterials, one with a discrete jump in mean filler particle size across the interface and the other with two intermixed particle sizes in the interfacial region, are studied. The choice of particle sizes used in bimaterials is based on a set of experiments in which particle size effects on fracture behavior of monolithic specimens with single particle size are established using optical interferometry and high-speed photography. A non-monotonic steady state stress intensity factor (K_Iss) variation with mean particle size is observed in the size range of 7–203 μm for 10% volume fraction. Among the selected particles sizes, 35 μm mean diameter is found to produce the highest K_Iss. Increasing or decreasing particle size results in measurable reduction in K_Iss of the composite. Based on this result, discrete and diffuse bimaterials made of 35 μm and 203 μm diameter filler particles are studied. The K_Iss of the diffuse interface with intermixed particle sizes is bounded by the ones for monolithic configurations with single size particles. Further, K_Iss appears to vary linearly with the volume fraction of particle size having lower K_Iss in monolithic configurations. On the contrary, in case of a microstructurally discrete interface, the measured K_Iss is same as the one for the weaker half of the bimaterial.     

Fabrication process and thermal properties of SiCp/Al metal matrix composites for electronic packaging applications

The fabrication process and thermal properties of 50–71 vol% SiC_p/Al metal matrix composites (MMCs) for electronic packaging applications have been investigated. The preforms consisted with 50–71 vol% SiC particles were fabricated by the ball milling and pressing method. The SiC particles were mixed with SiO₂ as an inorganic binder, and cationic starch as a organic binder in distilled water. The mixtures were consolidated in a mold by pressing and dried in two step process, followed by calcination at 1100 °C. The SiC_p/Al composites were fabricated by the infiltration of Al melt into SiC preforms using squeeze casting process. The thermal conductivity ranged 120–177 W/mK and coefficient of thermal expansion ranged 6–10 × 10^–6/K were obtained in 50–71 vol% SiC_p/Al MMCs. The thermal conductivity of SiC_p/Al composite decreased with increasing volume fraction of SiC_p and with increasing the amount of inorganic binder. The coefficient of thermal expansion of SiC_p/Al composite decreased with increasing volume fraction of SiC_p, while thermal conductivity was insensitive to the amount of inorganic binder. The experimental values of the coefficient of thermal expansion and thermal conductivity were in good agreement with the calculated coefficient of thermal expansion based on Turner's model and the calculated thermal conductivity based on Maxwell's model.     

Thermal conductivity of polystyrene–aluminum nitride composite

The thermal conductivity of polymer composites having a matrix of polystyrene (PS) containing aluminum nitride (AlN) reinforcement has been investigated under a special dispersion state of filler in the composites: aluminum nitride filler particles surrounding polystyrene matrix particles. Data for the thermal conductivity of the composites are discussed as a function of composition parameters (aluminum nitride concentration, polystyrene particle size) and temperature. It is found that the thermal conductivity of composites is higher for a polystyrene particle size of 2 mm than that for a particle size of 0.15 mm. The thermal conductivity of the composite is five times that of pure polystyrene at about 20% volume fraction of AlN for the composite containing 2 mm polystyrene particle size. The relationship between thermal conductivity of composites and AlN filler concentrations has been compared with the predictions of two theoretical models from the literature.     

Aluminum Dross Particles as Cost Effective Reinforcement for Aluminum Composites

In this work, the potential of Finely powdered aluminum dross by-product (d₅₀ = 67 (μm) as a cost effective reinforcement in discontinuously reinforced aluminum matrix composites (A356) was investigated on the basis of quality-cost modeling. Using a standard rheocasting procedure, samples of composite material were obtained consisting of 20 vol.% of as-received and laboratory processed grades of dross particles which differed mainly in particle size and level of impurities.

Inspection of the tensile properties of these different composite materials showed that a slight improvement in strength over the unreinforced matrix is achievable only by the introduction of fine dross particles with an average particle size less than 10 μm. In composites with larger dross particles the strengthening effect was not observed. In contrast, evaluation of the wear properties demonstrated that the introduction of coarse and as-received dross particles in an aluminum matrix results in a significant improvement in the wear resistance of the composite material. However, in that case, there is a sacrifice in strength. Quality-cost modeling of these two grades of dross reinforced aluminum based composites indicates that both may be applicable for some less critical engineered and wear resistant components, with possible widespread application in the transportation industry.     

高比例SiC_p/Al复合材料的有效热导率模型

有效热导率是铝基复合材料在电子封装、热控方面应用的重要性能指标.结合复合材料广义自洽微观力学模型,并在Maxwell理论的基础上,初步建立了适合高体积分数SiCp/Al复合材料的有效热导率预测模型.模型不仅考虑了颗粒与颗粒、颗粒与基体间的界面效应,而且在一定程度上也考虑了增强体颗粒的形状.其理论计算结果与实测值吻合较好.