ELECTRONIC COMPONENT TEMPERATURE CONTROL USING METAL-MATRIX COMPOSITES

THIS PHASE I PROGRAM IS INTENDED TO DEMONSTRATE THE FEASIBILITY OF PRODUCING A LIGHTWEIGHT METAL-MATRIX COMPOSITE (MMC) HEAT-REMOVAL BAR HAVING THE THERMAL CONDUCTIVITY OF COPPER AND TO SHOW, BY MECHANICAL AND PHYSICAL-PROPERTY TESTS, THAT THIS MMC IS A USEFUL MATERIAL FOR HEAT TRANSFER IN SPACE AND AVIONICS APPLICATIONS. THE PROGRAM WILL FOCUS ON NEWLY DEVELOPED "DWG" MATERIAL (CONTINUOUS GRAPHITE-FIBER/ALUMINUM) USING PITCH 100 FIBER THAT HAS A THERMAL CONDUCTIVITY OF 300 BTU/HR/FT(2)DEGREES FAHRENHEIT/FT. METHODOLOGY FOR JOINING A "DWG" BAR OR PLATE TO A HIGH-INTENSITY ELECTRONIC COMPONENT HEAT SOURCE, AND TECHNIQUES FOR FABRICATING PLATE AND AIR-COOLED HEAT SINKS WILL BE INCLUDED IN A FINAL REPORT, ALONG WITH RECOMMENDED TASKS FOR A PHASE II PROGRAM.