Heat conduction models of interfacial effects for TiB2-Al2O3/epoxy composites

The heat conduction of TiB2-Al2O3/epoxy composites was discussed by comparisons of the finite element model (FEM), the self-consistent model, and experimental results. The experimental thermal conductive performance of epoxy composites was characterized by laser flash method. According to the calculated and experimental results, TiB2 showed optimistic potential in improving thermal conductive performance of epoxy composites. With the addition of Al2O3 particles, the thermal conductive performance of epoxy composites filled by TiB2-Al2O3 composite fillers was improved remarkably at high volume fraction. After surface modification of ceramic fillers by silane coupling agents, the efficiency of the heat diffusion of epoxy composites was increased further. In comparison of the finite element analysis (FEA), the self-consistent model and experimental results, the thermal conductive values of FEA were in reasonable agreement with experimental values, and the calculated values from self-consistent models were lower than the experimental values slightly. (C) 2015 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.