Prediction of the Seebeck coefficient of thermoelectric unidirectional fibre-reinforced composites

In this work, new analytical equations are derived to precisely assess the longitudinal and transverse Seebeck coefficient values of a unidirectional (UD) carbon fibre reinforced polymer (CFRP) composite lamina, as a function of the properties of the constituents and the fibre volume fraction. Accurate Finite Element (FE) analyses were also carried out on fibre-matrix unit cells, and the results were compared to those obtained with the analytical methods showing a very satisfactory agreement. Experimental measurements were carried out on single carbon fibre (CF) filament level, as well as on a CF/epoxy UD lamina that corroborated the proposed equations with the experimental results.