Increasing Surface Area Increases Cooling Capacity

Photo etching is a very effective means of producing parts with complex topographies such as heat transfer, exchange and radiating devices. Surface area is a key aspect of the rate of thermal conductivity for a particular mass. The ability to create etched features such as raised pin fins, channels and other surface effects during the etching process has a relatively minor effect on mass, but can have a dramatic impact on surface area.

In the example pictured below, about 2,000 etched pin fins increase the effective surface area by nearly 25%. This particular plate, photo-etched in aluminum and used on the space shuttles, has radiating surfaces on both sides.

THERMAL CONDUCTIVITY OF MATERIALS

• Thermal Conductivity is expressed in watts/meter*Kelvin (W/m*K).
• Pure Aluminum (1100 series) is 247
• Copper is 398,
• Silver is 428
• Diamond is an Astounding 2500 watts

Alloying and temper will affect thermal conductivity.

All other things being equal, a copper device will be three times heavier than an aluminum one.

CONARD’S ETCHING RANGE

• Aluminum up to .080” thick
• Copper up to .063” thick

Locational tolerances, regardless of material thickness will be +/-.001” to drawing nominal. Dimensional tolerances at .063” will run +/-.012” and up to +/-.016″ at .080″.

APPLICATIONS FOR ETCHED THERMAL DEVICES

• Cryo Cooling, Commercial Refrigeration, Heat Exchangers
• LED Lighting, Electronics, Printed Circuit Boards