Interfacial nano-engineering in Al/diamond composites for thermal management by in situ diamond surface gas desorption

The manuscript shows that nano-engineering the surface of diamond particles prior contacting the liquid metal strongly enhances the Thermal Conductivity (TC) of Al/diamond composites. Composites were fabricated by gas pressure infiltration within a two-step engineering procedure: i) diamond surface was in situ subjected to gas desorption by annealing at 760 °C or 850 °C, and, ii) the contact time between liquid metal and diamond was strictly controlled. The synergic action of surface modification and controlled processing conditions allows an outstanding increasing of TC from 422 W/mK to 734 W/mK (around 42% of increment) in composites fabricated with medium-quality diamond particles. The authors acknowledge the “Ministerio de Economía y Competitividad” for partial financial support trough project MAT2011-25,029. I.E. Monje thanks University of Alicante for a UA-FPU Ph.D. fellowship.