Silicon carbide (SiC) is a technologically important ceramic material prized for its high thermal conductivity, wide bandgap, chemical inertness, and excellent high-temperature stability, properties that make it attractive for applications ranging from printed electronics and biomedical imaging to thermally stable abrasive and composite systems. This thesis investigates the synthesis, characterisation, and functional application of SiC nanoparticles (NPs) and SiC-based composites, addressing gaps in the understanding of how processing parameters govern nanoparticle properties and how these particles can subsequently be exploited to enhance the thermal performance of macroscale composite materials. The first phase of this work focused on the fabrication of SiC NPs via pulsed laser ablation in liquid (PLAL), a green, single-step, top-down synthesis route. A systematic investigation of laser fluence, scanning speed, pulse repetition rate, and ablation time was carried out to determine their influence on ablation efficiency and the resulting nanoparticle characteristics. Optimised processing conditions (15 min ablation time, 0.5 m/s scanning speed, 7.5 J/cm² fluence) yielded a maximum mass productivity of 1.196 mg·h⁻¹W⁻¹, with X-ray diffraction confirming the crystalline 3C-SiC phase and a direct correlation established between ablated mass and colloidal concentration, while increasing particle size was linked to a reduction in optical band gap. Building on this, the colloidal properties of the synthesised NPs were further tailored for inkjet-printing applications: nanoparticle size (89–155 nm), concentration, and morphology were shown to depend on laser power, scanning speed, and pulse repetition rate, while post-synthesis viscosity modulation using acetone, isopropyl alcohol, and glycerol enabled colloid viscosities compatible with commercial inkjet printheads (up to 10.95 mPa·s). The second phase of the thesis translated these ceramic-particle insights to a macroscale engineering application, investigating the thermal conductivity of epoxy-matrix abrasive composites reinforced with SiC and aluminium oxide (Al₂O₃) particles. Using thermal conductivity measurements, infrared thermal imaging, SEM, analytical modelling, and finite element analysis, the effects of particle type, size, loading, and hybrid filler ratio on heat transfer were systematically evaluated. Hybrid SiC–Al₂O₃ composites outperformed Al₂O₃-only systems, with SiC-rich hybrids (9:1 SiC:Al₂O₃) achieving a maximum thermal conductivity of ~2.78 W/mK, attributed to enhanced phonon transport, stronger covalent bonding, and improved particle dispersion relative to Al₂O₃. Larger particle sizes and higher filler loadings further improved conductivity, whereas nano-sized fillers exhibited reduced performance at high loadings due to agglomeration and interfacial thermal resistance. Improved thermal conductivity correlated with greater thermal stability and extended operational lifetime under grinding conditions, with analytical and FEA models capturing the dominant experimental trends. Collectively, this thesis demonstrates a coherent pathway from laser-based nanoparticle synthesis and property optimisation to the practical deployment of ceramic fillers in thermally engineered composite materials, providing process-informed design principles for SiC-based nanomaterials and hybrid ceramic-reinforced composites for high-performance, thermally demanding industrial applications.