ISSN Online: 2377-424X
ISBN Print: 1-56032-797-9
International Heat Transfer Conference 11
TRANSVERSE THERMAL CONDUCTIVITY AND CONTACT CONDUCTANCE OF FIBER REINFORCED COMPOSITE MATERIALS
Résumé
The high specific strength and modulus of elasticity of
fiber reinforced composites make them ideally suited form
many applications. Although both the mechanical and
thermal properties of these materials are important design
considerations, thermal properties of these composites have
not been sufficiently studied. This paper discusses the
characteristics of fiber reinforced composites that affect the heat transport mechanisms in this class of materials. The paper also provides thermal conductivity data over a
temperature range of 20−100°C and thermal contact
conductance results for fifteen cured epoxy composites
reinforced with carbon and glass fibers. The thermal
conductivity and consequently the thermal contact
conductance of these materials is affected by the matrix
material and the type of fiber employed. However, the data
indicate that the thermal conductivity of these materials is
not significantly affected by temperature over the specified
range, nor is the thermal contact conductance greatly
affected by pressure.