Interface thermal conductance with metal screens as interstitial material

This thesis reports the results of an experimental investigation to determine the thermal conductance at the interface of metal specimens separated by wire mesh. Sets of metal specimens of copper, 2024-T4 aluminum, and 304 stainless steel were used. The specimens were cylindrical, axially aligned, and hydraulically loaded. All tests were conducted in an air environment. Pressure applied to the specimens ranged from 50 to 500 psig. Surface roughness of the interfaces varied from 5 to 20 micro inches. The wire mesh separators were of 304 stainless steel in 20, 30, 40, and 50 mesh. Results of the experiments show that: a) thermal conductance increases with an increase in mesh number and the corresponding increase in the number of contact points, b) an increase in contact pressure will increase thermal conductance in all cases and, c) at a given pressure and with a given mesh stainless steel screen, the specimen materials in order of decreasing interface conductance are: aluminum, copper, and stainless steel --Abstract, page ii