Thermal conductivity and thermal expansion of graphite fiber/copper matrix composites

Conference · Thu Sep 01 00:00:00 EDT 1994

OSTI ID:10181440

Ellis, D L ^[1]; McDanels, D L ^[2]

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1. Case Western Univ., Cleveland, OH (United States)
2. Lewis Research Center, Cleveland, OH (United States)

The high specific conductivity of graphite fiber/copper matrix (Gr/Cu) composites offers great potential for high heat flux structures operating at elevated temperatures. To determine the feasibility of applying Gr/Cu composites to high heat flux structures, composite plates were fabricated using unidirectional and cross-plied pitch-based P100 graphite fibers in a pure copper matrix. Thermal conductivity of the composites was measured from room temperature to 1073 K, and thermal expansion was measured from room temperature to 1050 K. The longitudinal thermal conductivity, parallel to the fiber direction, was comparable to pure copper. The transverse thermal conductivity, normal to the fiber direction, was less than that of pure copper and decreased with increasing fiber content. The longitudinal thermal expansion decreased with increasing fiber content. The transverse thermal expansion was greater than pure copper and nearly independent of fiber content.

• Research Organization: National Aeronautics and Space Administration, Cleveland, OH (United States). Lewis Research Center
• Sponsoring Organization: National Aeronautics and Space Administration, Washington, DC (United States); USDOE, Washington, DC (United States)
• DOE Contract Number: AI03-86SF16310
• OSTI ID: 10181440
• Report Number(s): NASA-TM-105233; CONF-910202-22; ON: DE94051251; TRN: 94:008333
• Resource Relation: Conference: Annual meeting and exhibition of the Minerals, Metals and Materials Society (TMS),New Orleans, LA (United States),17-21 Feb 1991; Other Information: PBD: [1994]
• Country of Publication: United States
• Language: English

Related Subjects

21 SPECIFIC NUCLEAR REACTORS AND ASSOCIATED PLANTS
36 MATERIALS SCIENCE
COMPOSITE MATERIALS
THERMAL EXPANSION
THERMAL CONDUCTIVITY
MATRIX MATERIALS
SPACE POWER REACTORS
REACTOR MATERIALS
GRAPHITE
COPPER
NESDPS Office of Nuclear Energy Space and Defense Power Systems
210600
360606
POWER REACTORS, MOBILE, PROPULSION, PACKAGE, AND TRANSPORTABLE
PHYSICAL PROPERTIES