Synthesis and Analysis of the Thermal Behavior of SiC-Fibre Reinforced Copper Matrix Composites as Heat Sink Material

Abstract

Copper matrix composites reinforced with silicon carbide fibres (SiCf/Cu) are considered as heat sink materials for the divertor of DEMO as they combine high thermal conductivity and good mechanical strength at high temperature. A new method was developed to synthesise a metal matrix composite (MMC) consisting of about 3-6 unidirectional reinforced layers (UD-layers). The UD-layers were prepared by two subsequent electroplating processes which allow to adjust various fibre volume fractions. These single UD layers were stacked with different relative fibre orientations (0°/0° and 0°/90°) and consolidated by vacuum hot pressing to form the MMC specimen. The thermal conductivity perpendicular to fibre direction was obtained by laser flash apparatus (LFA) measurements. It is about 310 Wm-1K-1 for electroplated copper (Cu) and above 200 Wm-1K-1 for MMC specimens with a fibre volume fraction of 8-13%. Due to the manufacturing process, boundaries within the matrix were found resulting in a reduction of the values. In addition, DSC (differential scanning calorimetry) measurements were performed which gave similar results.