Int J Thermophys (2010) 31:975–986 DOI 10.1007/s10765-010-0756-2 Generalized Bruggeman Formula for the Effective Thermal Conductivity of Particulate Composites with an Interface Layer J. Ordóñez-Miranda · J. J. Alvarado-Gil · R. Medina-Ezquivel Received: 16 June 2009 / Accepted: 13 May 2010 / Published online: 30 May 2010 © Springer Science+Business Media, LLC 2010 Abstract Combining the well-known Bruggeman theory and Nan et al. results, formulas for predicting the effective thermal conductivity of anisotropic particulate composites with an interface layer are derived. These formulas are valid for a compos- ite material containing arbitrarily oriented ellipsoidal particles with any aspect ratio, and they can be expected to be suitable mainly for large volume fractions, when the thermal interaction between neighboring particles needs to be considered. Results of the present approach are reduced to simpler formulas for some limiting cases in the particle shape. Theoretical analysis of the effective thermal conductivity as a func- tion of volume fraction and shape of the particles is performed. Comparison of the obtained formulas with previously reported experimental data for the effective thermal conductivity is also presented. Keywords Bruggeman theory · Coated particles · Composite materials · Effective thermal conductivity · Nan formula 1 Introduction Composites materials have always attracted great interest, due to the fact that they can inherit the desirable properties of its components while enhancing others. The J. Ordóñez-Miranda · J. J. Alvarado-Gil (B ) · R. Medina-Ezquivel Applied Physics Department, Centro de Investigación y de Estudios Avanzados del I.P.N-Unidad Mérida, Carretera Antigua a Progreso km. 6, A.P. 73 Cordemex, 97310 Mérida, Yucatán, México e-mail: jjag@mda.cinvestav.mx J. Ordóñez-Miranda e-mail: eordonez@mda.cinvestav.mx R. Medina-Ezquivel e-mail: rmedina.esquivel@gmail.com 123