A Fractal Approach to Evaluating the Thermal Conductivity of ZrB2–C Composite Ceramic Materials

Editorial Board PCSS Journal; A.S. Shirinyan; L.V. Marynchenko; O.I. Nizhelska

doi:10.15330/pcss.27.1.52-61

Authors

A.S. Shirinyan Laboratory of composite materials for nuclear-hydrogen energy, Institute of Applied Physics of National Academy of Sciences of Ukraine, Sumy, Ukraine
L.V. Marynchenko Department of Bioenergetic, Bioinformatic and Ecobiotechnology, National Technical University of Ukraine “Igor Sikorsky Kyiv Polytechnic Institute”, Kyiv, Ukraine
O.I. Nizhelska Laboratory of composite materials for nuclear-hydrogen energy, Institute of Applied Physics of National Academy of Sciences of Ukraine, Sumy, Ukraine

DOI:

https://doi.org/10.15330/pcss.27.1.52-61

Keywords:

ceramic composites, boron carbide, zirconium carbide, zirconium diboride, graphite, microstructure, fractal analysis, thermal conductivity, lacunarity, energy industry

Abstract

A pressing issue in materials science is the controlled application of ceramic composite materials at high temperatures in modern technologies, particularly in nuclear physics, atomic energy, aerospace, and rocket engineering. This study investigates the correlation between the thermal conductivity of synthesized ZrB₂–C ceramic composites and their microstructural features using fractal analysis. The composites were produced via high-temperature reactive synthesis from boron and zirconium carbide powders. Scanning electron microscopy (SEM) and backscattered electron (BSE) modes was used to obtain micrographs of the fracture surfaces. These images were analyzed using the Box Counting method with ImageJ and FracLac software to determine two fractal parameters: fractal dimension and lacunarity. A strong inverse correlation was observed between lacunarity and thermal conductivity. The study demonstrates that fractal analysis, particularly the lacunarity parameter, can serve as a useful tool for assessing heat transfer potential in two-phase ceramic composites, especially when conventional measurement methods are impractical.

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