A METHOD FOR SEEKING HIGH THERMAL-CONDUCTIVITY COMPOUNDS

Thermal conductivity of an intermetallic compound is characterized as an enhancement due to ordering with reference to the basic contributio n of solid solutions. A necessary condition of having high thermal con ductivity of a given intermetallic compound is, therefore, that the so lid solution itself transports high thermal current. A periodic table in helical form for seeking the high conductivity compound is proposed by summarizing the electrical resistivity data of solid solutions. As sessments of thermal conductivity were conducted for the intermetallic compounds based on noble metals. Cu3Au, CuAu and AgMg show the maximu m value for 157, 167 and 147 W m(-1) K-1 at ambient temperature among L1(2), L1(0) and B2 compounds, respectively. (C) 1998 Elsevier Science Limited. All rights reserved.