Experimental study on thermal contact resistance of needle-punched C/C-SiC composites at different temperatures and pressures

In this study, thermal contact resistance (TCR) of needle-punched C/C-SiC composites under different conditions (temperature, pressure) is experimentally measured by a three-element system. The “three-element system” refers to a thermal conductivity measurement facility, a surface roughness measurement microscope and a one-D heat conduction system. Details of the three elements and the measurement process are described. Under the measurement conditions, the values of TCR of the needle-punched C/C-SiC composites are within the range of 0.00005 to 0.000275 K·m²·W^-1. Generally speaking the TCR increases with interface temperature when it is lower than about 220℃ and decreases with loading pressure monotonically. Four variation curves of TCR are presented.