A heat sink is a piece of metal that is positioned on the top of a computer chip, such as a CPU, to draw power and heat away from the CPU parts. This provides a rise through a series of fins. Extruded heat sinks are passive by themselves, which means they have no moving parts.
In most cases, the heatsink is combined with a fan that blows that hot air away and provides a liquid solution that carries the heat from the pipes halfway. Because the CPU is really sensitive to overheating due to the production of heat by some of its parts. This is why having a heat sink is really important to cool down the CPU, even if you are using it for a long time.
However, having the right quality heat sink is crucial; this is why aluminum alloys work best for the heat sink. In this blog article, let’s discuss if aluminum alloys are the ideal material for extruded heat sinks or not.
Aluminum Alloys for Extruded Heat Sinks
When you are designing a heat sink, it consists of several materials, and you need to find the right material balance depending on the factors that affect performance. Aluminum is the most common when it comes to material choice.
Using aluminum instead of copper has several reasons. It is important to notice that copper possesses higher thermal conductivity levels. Moreover, copper’s thermal conductivity is about 60% more than that of aluminum.
However, aluminum offers versatility, low cost, and light-weight features. Its thermal conductivity is still ideal for various applications. Also, there are different types of aluminum heat sinks, but extruded heat sinks made up of aluminum are the most popular ones.
You can extrude heat sinks in high volumes at a low cost. If you’re designing 80/20 extruded aluminum heat sinks, you might be thinking which alloy you should choose for your extrusions.
Which Aluminum Alloy Should Be Ideal to Use for Heat Sinks?
If you’re finding an alloy with the highest thermal conductivity, aluminum 1050 offers a thermal conductivity of 229 W/m*k. Moreover, Extruded aluminum profile factory Hkaluminum provide this alloy is soft for the heat sinks mechanically.
Look at the 6000 series alloys for the heat sinks. These alloys are available in strong nature and tend to extrude well. Alloys such as 6061 and 6063 are the most common and popular alloys of the 6000 series. They are common for extrusion, and each works well for a heat sink project.
Aluminum 6061
Aluminum alloy 6061 offers a medium- to high-strength heat-treatable alloy. It has a strength higher than 6005A. Also offers good quality corrosion resistance with a very good weldability with a reduced strength in the weld zone.
It has a medium fatigue strength with cold formability in the temperate T4. There limits the formability in T6 temper and is not suitable for difficult cross-sectional areas.
Aluminum Alloy 6063
Aluminum alloy 6063 is a medium-strength alloy that is ideal for architectural alloys. It is utilized in the complex extrusions for quality results. It offers a good surface finish, is suitable for welding, and has high corrosion resistance.
This series of aluminum alloys 6065 vs 6005 is perfect for doors, shop fittings, irrigation tubing, extrusions, and more.
Select the Right Aluminum for Your Project
Whether you choose copper alloy or aluminum material, it is totally your organization’s choice. The alloys of the 6000 family differ very little in terms of thermal conductivity. Therefore, increasing performance mostly requires increasing the heat sink’s surface area and improving airflow over it.
Make sure the heat sink fits the hot component in your design as tightly as possible, leaving the least feasible space between them. This will contribute to your project’s success. Purchase quality extruded heat sinks from HK Aluminum.
Conclusion:
If you’re searching for the right aluminum, alloy 6063 can be used with any traditional welding technique. Moreover, Alloy 4043 or 5183 should be used for welding wire in most cases. Use alloy 4043 when the highest level of electrical conductivity is needed. Use alloy 5346 for strength and conductivity, and enlarge the weld to make up for the reduced conductivity.
However, each aluminum alloy has its own characteristics and features in extruded heat sinks. Some are ideal for industrial applications and purposes. This makes the best use of aluminum extrusion for heat sinks. Also, we offer free quotes at HK Aluminum to order bulk aluminum extrusion from our company.
Extruded Heat Sinks Related FAQs
Extruded heat sinks are cooling devices that consist of aluminum copper formed through the extrusion process. They eject heat from electronic components by increasing the surface area in contact with air. It also allows the heat to transfer more effectively from the surrounding components.
Extruded heat sinks provide multiple advantages that include cost-effectiveness, conductivity, lightweight construction, and design flexibility. Their efficient production process allows for the manufacturing of difficult shapes that boost cooling performance.
Extruded heat sinks can indeed be tailored to fit certain needs. To fit inside the limitations of your electronic equipment and maximize thermal performance, customization options include changing the fin layout, size, and shape.
