International Journal of Mechanical Engineering and Technology (IJMET)

Volume 6, Issue 12, Dec 2015, pp. 30-35, Article ID: IJMET_06_12_004
Available online at
http://www.iaeme.com/IJMET/issues.asp?JType=IJMET&VType=6&IType=12
ISSN Print: 0976-6340 and ISSN Online: 0976-6359
IAEME Publication

THE INFLUENCE OF SHAPE AND SPATIAL

DISTRIBUTION OF METAL PARTICLES ON
THE THERMAL CONDUCTIVITY OF
METAL-POLYMER COMPOSITES
Abdulrahman A. Alghamdi
Mechanical Engineering Department
Umm Al-Qura University
P.O. Box 5555 Postal code 21955
ABSTRACT
In this paper, the effect of shape and spatial distribution of metal particles
on the thermal conductivity of nickel-silicone composites is investigated to find
out the optimum shape and spatial distribution of metal particles in polymer
composites. Various finite element models with different particles shapes and
arrangements are constructed to predict composite thermal conductivity.
Key word: Thermal Conductivity; Metal-Polymer Composites; Particles;
Finite Element.
Cite this Article: Abdulrahman A. Alghamdi. The Influence of Shape and
Spatial Distribution of Metal Particles on the Thermal Conductivity of MetalPolymer Composites, International Journal of Mechanical Engineering and
Technology, 6(12), 2015, pp. 30-35.
http://www.iaeme.com/currentissue.asp?JType=IJMET&VType=6&IType=12

1. INTRODUCTION
Polymer matrix composites filled with conductive metal particles are of particular
interest in many engineering fields [1-3] due to their enhanced thermal conductivities,
which are close to metal. On the other hand, the mechanical properties and
manufacturing processes of such composites are typical of plastics [4]. However,
introducing such a filler to the polymer matrix affects the favorable mechanical and
physical properties such as high impact strength and low density. Therefore, it is of
great importance to reduce the volume fraction of the conductive phase without
affecting the thermal conductivity of the composite. This should be studied and
predicted early in the design stage. Unfortunately, it is not always feasible to calculate
the effective properties of composite material by using a specific set of equations or
models. This is due to the fact that most of these equations do not take into account
the peculiarities of such materials [4].

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The Influence of Shape and Spatial Distribution of Metal Particles on The Thermal
Conductivity of Metal-Polymer Composites

It is recognized that finite element analysis provides a direct solution to this

problem [5]. In many cases, and certainly during the design stage, the finite element
method has proven its reliability and accuracy, which in turn leads to a reduction in
the amount of experimental work needed, and, therefore, a reduction in cost [6]. Many
research works have been done on predicting the thermal properties of composites
using Finite Element Modelling (FEM) [5, 7-11]. However, there are a limited
number of studies that use FEM to predict the effect of the spatial distribution of
conducting particles on the thermal properties of composites.
The main purpose of this study is to find out the optimum shape and spatial
distribution for metal particles in polymer composites. Optimum configuration here
relates to the maximum heat transfer rate at the minimum volume fraction of metal
particles. This is an important way of reducing the amount of metal particles without
affecting the thermal transport properties of the composite.

2. MATERIAL UNDER INVESTIGATION

The metal-polymer composite investigated in this study was developed by other
researchers [12] The polymer matrix is constituted of industrial silicone whereas the
conductive phase is made up of nickel (Ni) particles with an average diameter of 10
m. Two sets of samples were prepared with different volume fractions. The Ni
particles in the first set being dispersed randomly in the silicone matrix, whereas the
Ni particles in the second set of specimens aligned in one direction by using an
external magnetic field while preparing the composite material. This technique is used
to enhance thermal and electrical conductivity in one direction for the polymer matrix
filled with metal particles [12-16].

3. EXPERIMENTAL MEASUREMENT
For validation purposes, this study uses the experimental work conducted earlier by
Boudenne and his colleagues [12]. They used the hot guarded plate technique to
measure the overall thermal conductivity of composite samples sized 15 *15 * 3 mm3.
This technique works on the principle of applying a temperature gradient on two
opposite surfaces of the test specimen, placing it between heating and cooling plates
while the remaining surfaces are insulated. These conditions generate a constant heat
flow towards the cooled surface. Thermal conductivity is then determined as follows:
(1)

where k is the thermal conductivity of the specimen, Q is the quantity of heat

flowing from the hot surface towards the cold surface, A is the surface area of the
specimen, perpendicular to the heat flow, d is the distance between the hot and cold
surfaces, and Thot and Tcold are the hot and cold temperatures respectively.

4. FINITE ELEMENT MODELING

4.1. Composite unit cell
In order to predict the thermal conductivity of the composite, three-dimensional
models for each type of Ni-Si composite (random distribution and ordered
distribution) with various volume fractions of nickel, were constructed. Figure 1 (a)
and (b) show two finite element models for random and ordered distributed particles,
respectively. Both models with a transparent silicone matrix show the distribution of

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Abdulrahman A. Alghamdi

nickel particles. The volume fraction of Ni particles in both models is 0.05. Figure (2)
shows the different shapes of particles investigated in this paper, which are spherical,
hexagonal, and ellipsoid. Spherical particles represent the real particles shape.
Hexagonal and ellipsoid particles shapes were selected to study the effect of contact
area between particles and aspect ratio of the particles on the thermal conductivity of
the composite. The aspect ratio of the ellipsoid particles is arbitrarily taken to be 2.8.

Figure 1 Finite element model of (a) random (b) ordered distributed sperical particles.

Figure 2 Different particle shapes (a) spherical (b) hexagonal (c) ellipsoid.

4.2. Material properties of the constituents

The input physical and thermal properties of the silicone matrix and nickel particles
are given in Table I below.
Table I Material Properties of The Constituent Materials of A Nickel-Silicone Composite.
Material
Nickel
Silicone

Density
Kg/m3
8500
2320

Specific Heat
KJ/kg-K
0.445
1.363

Thermal Conductivity
W/m-K
90.9
0.25

4.3. Boundary conditions

The finite element calculations in this paper involve steady-state thermal analysis,
yielding thermal conductivity. The steady-state analysis involves applying a
temperature gradient to two opposite faces perpendicular to any spatial direction (say
X), while the remaining faces are assumed to be insulated. These boundary
conditions generate an unidirectional heat flow towards the cold surface. The thermal
conductivity in the direction of the applied temperature gradient (k) is calculated by
using Fouriers Law, as follows:

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The Influence of Shape and Spatial Distribution of Metal Particles on The Thermal
Conductivity of Metal-Polymer Composites

(2)

Where Qx is the sum total of the nodal heat flux on the face with the lower
temperature. A is the cross-section area of the model perpendicular to the direction of
heat flow. x is the distance between the two opposite faces across which the
temperature gradient is applied. T (T hot Tcold) is the temperature difference applied
across the model. In this study, Thot and Tcold are arbitrarily taken to be 100 and 0 oC
respectively.

5. RESULTS AND DISCUSSION

The finite element (FE) results of the random and ordered distribution of spherical
particles have been benchmarked against the experimental results obtained by
Boudenne et al [12]. It can be clearly seen from Figure (3) that FE results follow the
same trend as the experimental results with a small and acceptable margin of error. It
is important to note that the values of thermal conductivity for the ordered distribution
models were measured in a direction perpendicular to the orientation of the aligned
particles.

Figure 3 Experimental and FE prediction of thermal conductivity as a function of

spherical Ni particles volume fraction

Figure 4 FE prediction of thermal conductivity of random distribution configuration

as a function of Ni particles volume fraction
Figures (4) and (5) show an increase in thermal conductivity values of the
composite with respect to Ni particles volume fraction in both the random and ordered
distribution configuration, respectively. It is obvious from both figures that the

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Abdulrahman A. Alghamdi

ordered distribution for all particle shapes is double the thermal conductivities of the
composite in a direction perpendicular to the orientation of the aligned particles.
As shown in figures (4) and (5) both spherical and hexagonal particles have nearly
the same effect in both random and ordered configurations which means increasing
the contact area between one particles and another will not improve the overall
thermal conductivity of the composite.

Figure 5 FE prediction of the thermal conductivity of ordered distribution

configuration as a function of Ni particles volume fraction
As shown in figure (4), models with random distribution of ellipsoid particles
have the same effect on thermal conductivity of the composite as the spherical and
hexagonal particle in the range between zero and four percent nickel volume fraction.
At higher nickel volume fraction (higher than 4%) random ellipsoid particle show
higher thermal conductivity than spherical and hexagonal particles due to the
formation of ellipsoid particles nets. The effect of ordered ellipsoid particles on
thermal conductivity of the composite is more significant than models with random
distribution of ellipsoid particles. Also, models with ordered ellipsoid particles have
almost twice the thermal conductivity of the spherical and hexagonal particles, as
shown in figure (5).

6. CONCLUSIONS
A finite element modeling approach for a nickel-silicone composite has been
presented. Thermal conductivity of the composite with different particles shapes and
distribution has been predicted. The predicted values of thermal conductivity were
significantly influenced by the ordered distribution and aspect ratio of the particles,
with the ellipsoid particles showing the highest thermal conductivity among the
different particle shapes.

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Conductivity of Metal-Polymer Composites
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