Thermal contact conductance of coated surfaces

The thermal contact resistance phenomena are increasingly important as the size of mechanical and electronic components decrease. Applying a coating material with high thermal conductivity is an effective way to enhance the thermal contact conductance. This work conducted an experimental and theoretical study to investigate the effects of diamond film coatings on the thermal contact conductance. A model based on statistical elastoplastic surface contact mechanics was developed to study the thermal contact conductance of coating material. Diamond films were sputtered on the substrate of ceramics by microwave plasma chemical vapor deposition. Test samples have different surface roughnesses, deposition times and deposition qualities. A range of test conditions was conducted to evaluate the thermal contact conductance of coated films and for comparisons with the theoretical model. (c) 2005 Published by Elsevier B.V.