Thermal conductivity and mechanical properties of flak graphite/Al composite with electroless Cu plating on graphite surface

Cu was coated on the surface of the nature graphite flake (GF) by the electroless copper plating method, and then the Cu-GF/Al composites were fabricated by vacuum hot-press sintering with Cu-coated GF (Cu-GF) and Al powder. The microstructures and interfaces of Cu-GF/Al composites were studied and the effect of Cu-GF surface on the thermal conductivity and bending strength was investigated. The results show that the Cu layer inhibits the formation of Al₄C₃. Thus the bending strength of Cu-GF/Al composites is significantly enhanced after Cu coated and the value decreases from 104 to 74 MPa as Cu-GF volume fraction increases from 50% to 70%. The maximum thermal conductivity is 522 W/(m·K) when the volume fraction of GF is 70%.