The effect of metals as additives on thermal conductivity of epoxy resin

Abstract EN

A hand lay-up method was used to prepare Epoxy / metal composites.

Epoxy resin (EP) was used as a matrix with metal particles (Al, Cu, and Fe) as fillers.

The preparation method includes preparing square panels of composites with different weight percentage of fillers (10, 20, 30, 40, and 50 %).

Standard specimens (88mm in diameter) for thermal conductivity tests were prepared to measure thermal conductivity kexp.

The result of experimental thermal conductivity kexp, for EP/metal composites show that, kexp increase with increasing weight percentage, For EP/ Al and EP / Cu composites, and it have have maximum values of 0.33 and 0.35 W / m.K, respectively.

While kexp for EP / Fe composite show slight increase with maximum value of 0.186 W / m.K.

The results show that the best values for thermal conductivity is for EP / Cu composite which has the maximum value of kexp 0.35 W / m.K.