Effect of various nanoparticle fillers on the thermal contact resistance (TCR) between crystals and aluminium alloys materials

•A thermal contact resistance (TCR) testing method with TIMs between crystal and metal interfaces has been proposed.•TIMs with a silicone grease QM850 as the base were prepared and doped with five different types of nanoparticles and experimental tests were conducted.•The effects of nanoparticle type and volume ratio on the TCR were determined through experimental analysis.•It has been concluded that surface roughness affects TCR, but adding different volume contents of nanocomposites as TIMs can significantly eliminate the influence of surface roughness on TCR.