Aluminum has a low density of only about 2.7g/cm³, which is much lower than common metals such as iron and copper. This makes the aluminum heat sink lighter and more convenient and labor-saving during installation and handling. For some equipment that needs to be frequently moved or installed at high places, such as laptops and small electronic devices, aluminum heat sinks can reduce the overall weight and facilitate user maintenance and replacement.
Aluminum has excellent thermal conductivity, with a thermal conductivity coefficient of about 237W/(m·K). Good thermal conductivity enables aluminum heat sinks to quickly transfer heat from the heat source to the surrounding environment, thereby effectively reducing the temperature of the equipment. In addition, aluminum heat sinks can further improve heat dissipation efficiency by designing various shapes and structures, such as increasing the number and area of heat dissipation fins and optimizing heat dissipation channels. For example, in some high-end computer CPU radiators, by using large-area aluminum fins and unique air duct design, the heat generated by the CPU can be quickly dissipated to ensure the stable operation of the computer.
Aluminum easily reacts with oxygen in the air to form a dense aluminum oxide film on the surface. This oxide film has good chemical stability and corrosion resistance, which can prevent the internal aluminum from being further oxidized and corroded. Compared with iron radiators, aluminum heat sinks are not easy to rust, and can be used for a long time without serious corrosion problems even in humid environments. Therefore, aluminum heat sinks are suitable for various working environments, including some harsh industrial environments and places with high humidity.
Aluminum has good plasticity and machinability, and can be made into radiators of various shapes and sizes through various processing processes such as casting, extrusion, and stretching. This allows aluminum heat sinks to be customized according to the needs of different equipment and better meet various complex heat dissipation requirements. For example, for some irregularly shaped electronic equipment housings, aluminum heat sinks can be processed through precision molds and perfectly fit with the equipment housing, achieving efficient heat dissipation while ensuring the overall beauty of the equipment.
Although the price of aluminum is relatively high compared to some ordinary metals, the aluminum heat sink is relatively cost-effective due to its light weight, relatively low production and processing costs, and long service life. Compared with copper radiators, copper has a higher price and high density, resulting in a higher cost of copper radiators. While aluminum heat sink can meet most of the heat dissipation needs, it can save costs for users, especially in large-scale production and application, its economic advantages are more obvious.
Aluminum is a recyclable metal, and the energy consumption of recycling is only about 5% of the energy consumption of original aluminum production, which has a high recycling value. After the end of its service life, aluminum heat sink can be easily recycled to reduce environmental pollution. At the same time, the waste and pollutants generated by aluminum heat sink in the production process are relatively small, which meets the requirements of modern society for environmental protection.
Aluminum has good electromagnetic shielding properties and can effectively block electromagnetic radiation. In some electronic equipment with high requirements for electromagnetic compatibility, the use of aluminum heat sink can not only solve the heat dissipation problem, but also play a certain electromagnetic shielding role, reduce the electromagnetic interference of the equipment to the surrounding environment, and prevent the influence of external electromagnetic signals on the equipment, and improve the stability and reliability of the equipment.
