THERMAL CONDUCTIVITY, ELECTRICAL CONDUCTIVITY AND SPECIFIC HEAT OF COPPER-CARBON FIBER COMPOSITE.

Abstract

We have developed a new material of copper-carbon fiber composite which possesses the properties of copper, i. e. , the excellent electrical and thermal conductivities, and the property of carbon fiber, i. e. , a small thermal expansion coefficient. These properties of the composite are adjustable within a certain range by changing the volume and/or arrangement of carbon fibers. The effects of volume and arrangement of fiber on the thermal conductivity, electrical conductivity and specific heat of the composite were studied. Results obtained are as follows: (1) The thermal and electrical conductivities of the composite became smaller as the volume of carbon fiber increased, and were influenced by the fiber arrangement. (2) The above results were predictable from a careful application of the 'rule of mixtures' for composites. (3) The specific heat of the composite was dependent not on the fiber arrangement but on the fiber volume. (4) In the thermal fatigue tests, no degradation in the electrical conductivity of this composite was observed.