Thermal conductivity and thermal expansions of aluminum/carbon composites based on wood templates

Wood with its rational and aesthetic inner structures was used as a template to fabricate aluminum/carbon composites in this research. Porous carbon was first pyrolyzed from the wood templates. The final composites were then obtained by injecting aluminum alloy into porous carbon. The microstructures, thermal conductivity, and thermal expansions of these composites were then analyzed. The results indicate that the structures of the aluminum/carbon composites are controlled by the natural structure of wood. Moreover, the composites exhibit a lower coefficient of thermal expansion than aluminum and a higher thermal conductivity than porous carbon.