The thermal contact resistance at gold foil surfaces

Abstract The thermal contact resistance at gold foil surfaces has been measured over the pressure range 2·5 to 9 × 106kg/m2 and in the temperature range 50 to 300°C. Temperature had little effect on the thermal resistance, while the resistance was dependent on pressure in such a way as to suggest that both elastic and plastic deformation of the surface structure will occur in a manner determined by the sequence of pressure changes.