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A Quick Insight into the Top Attributes of an Aluminum Heat Sink

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Generalhard ware
A Quick Insight into the Top Attributes of an Aluminum Heat Sink

Heat sinks may not directly contribute to the operation of electrical and electronics products, but they indirectly support them. They ensure the safety of the device and the users, and also makes the equipment deliver its best output. Indeed, safety and performance are unique value propositions for business and consumers. If you manufacture aluminum profile or are an engineer of consumer/industrial products with built-in heat sinks, here is more information on aluminum heat sink, just for you.

  1. Effectiveness

Thermal conductivity is an important determinant when it comes to choosing materials for heatsink. The reason is obvious. Heat sinks serve the purpose to sink heat. They have to take out heat from the body and dissipate it into the surroundings.

Some metals and alloys have been ranked as per their thermal conductivity ([BTU/(hr·ft⋅°F)] values as follows.

  • Copper: 223
  • Aluminum: 118
  • Brass: 64
  • Steel:17
  • Bronze: 15

Copper stands high on the list, but other factors like cost and density make it a secondary choice after aluminum. Low thermal resistance, measured in terms of Celsius per watt (°C/W) of aluminum, also contributes to the efficiency of aluminum heat sink.

  1. Affordability

Good conductivity of aluminum and copper often make them a suitable choice for designing the heat sink. However, the affordability factor takes a lead. Aluminum profile heat sinks are a common sight in the products targeting consumer and industrial segments alike. Containing the price without sacrificing the user experience is a business differentiator in the competitive world.

  1. Lightness

Density is the mass contained in kg of 1 m3 of the material. The density of copper equals 8940 (kg m-3) and that of aluminum stands at 2700 (kg m-3). Aluminum has less than one-third the density of copper, which makes it a favorite choice for designing light heat sinks. This is one of the reasons behind the high demand of light products across all sectors.

  1. Strength

The tensile strength (TS) refers to the maximum stress that a material can withstand while being stretched or pulled before breaking. Though stainless steel has a dominant position when it comes to strength, aluminum profile again emerges as a better option for heat sinks. Many factors contribute to its preference in this context, such as heat conductivity, thermal resistance, and density among others.

Aluminum heat sink is an ideal choice, but make sure that you are getting the right aluminum profile. This remains a tough question. Get it only from the right aluminum profile manufacturer that has the experience and expertise in the industry.

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