Why a Copper Heat Sink is Often the Heat Sink of Choice

A heat sink transfers heat generated by a mechanical or electronic device to a medium such as a liquid coolant or air. From there, the heat is dissipated and allows the regulation of a device's optimal temperature levels.

A heat sink cools graphics processors or central processing units in computers. High-power semiconductor devices such as optoelectronics or power transistors have an insufficient ability to dissipate heat. A heat sink is used to moderate the temperature.

A heat sink maximizes the surface area that is in contact with the surrounding cooling medium. The heat sink performance is affected by factors such as 

• Surface treatment 
• Protrusion design 
• Choice of material 

Thermal interface material and heat sink attachment methods also affect an integrated circuit's die temperature. Thermal grease and thermal adhesive improve the performance of a heat sink by filling gaps between a device's heat spreader and the heat sink.

Copper Heat Sinks  

Many heatsinks are made of copper. A copper heat sink has desirable properties for thermally durable and efficient heat exchangers. A copper heat sink is an excellent conductor of heat. The high thermal conductivity of the copper heat sink allows heat, to quickly pass through the device.

Other desirable properties of a copper heat sink are

• Antimicrobial resistance 
• Biofouling resistance 
• Corrosion resistance  

A copper heat sink has about two times the thermal conductivity as that of an aluminum heat sink. The conductivity is faster and has more heat absorption than a heat sink made of aluminum. Uses for the copper heat sink include:

• Electronics 
• Geothermal cooling and heating 
• Forced air cooling and heating systems 
• Gas water heaters 
• HVAC systems 
• Solar thermal water systems 
• Power plants 
• Industrial facilities 

Copper heat sinks are more expensive than aluminum heat sinks and are three times denser.  They are skived and machined. Another manufacturing method is soldering the fins into the base of the heat sink. 

To know more about heat sink and copper heatsink visit to website.

Innovative Extruded Heat Sink Technology Allows Cooling Source to Meet the Demands Placed on the Extruded Aluminum Heatsink

A lot of research is being conducted to come up with low-cost manufacturing methods that will produce an extruded heat sink that incorporates more fins in small-sized heat sink packages. Aluminum is an excellent material for an extruded heat sink.
 
Inexpensive tooling is used to shape the fin details of an extruded aluminum heatsink easily. The surface area is limited by the extrusion ratio or the number of fins and the height. A Cooling Source extruded aluminum heatsink is a cost-effective solution for most electronic cooling applications. 

Extruded heat sink profiles allow engineers to start or select a design from a pre-tooled extruded heat sink profile. Applications can be for a range of electronic packages. The increased surface area of the complex fin profiles allows for greater heat dissipation while eliminating the time and cost of machining equivalent block aluminum shapes.

The continued advance in consumer electronics and the rapid growth of options for LED lighting bring increased demands for energy with a smaller footprint. Increased power can be detrimental to electronics. The new demands present a thermal management challenge. 

The Process  

Innovative new processes in aluminum extrusion improve the quality and speed of the extrusions. Higher ratio air-cooled heatsinks are produced that are especially suitable for power electronics and lighting industries.

The most common technology for thermal management of cooling power electronics modules is extruded aluminum heatsinks. Often the technology of manufacturing new products is more advanced than the products themselves. 
For extruded aluminum, understanding of the material is not enough for designers and engineers to take advantage of the versatility of aluminum. Cooling Source understands the appropriate extrusion process needed for the most efficient product or material solution.
 
Complex fin structures are created by forcing aluminum throw extrusion dies. The basic process uses extreme pressure to press aluminum billet logs through the dies to establish the length of extruded aluminum shapes or profiles.

Contact Cooling Source 

Email or call 925-292-1293 to be put in touch with an expert that has information about the high-performance extruded heat sink profiles used for aluminum extruded heatsinks or other aluminum applications. A custom aluminum extruded heatsink can be designed to fulfill your needs.

Standard sizes are available for easy manufacturing of prototypes. Upon request, custom profiles to meet specific requirements are available. Cooling Source experts show the benefits of a process to help clients decide which extruded heatsink works best for them.  

Extruded aluminum heatsink advantages include: 

• Most cost-effective solutions for most electronic cooling applications 
• High fin density that improves cooling performance 
• Lighter in weight than copper 
• More efficient than a stamped heat sink 
• Wide variety of customizable designs 
• Useful flat back components for power modules 
• Unique shapes geared for electronic power assembly use

To know more about extruded aluminum heatsink and extruded heat sink visit to website.