You've 5 ounces of aluminum
You've 5 ounces of aluminum
Does AL work as a heatsink? LOL, well I guess obviously it does.
Yes it does ... the minute you said Lenovo I knew it wasn't magnesium .
Dang, there goes making a thermite bomb with magnesium shavings, which would have been a lot more fun than scrap value....but, happily, aluminum can also work, but not near as well at burning through engine blocks.
Chinese aluminum.
Magnesium as a heat sink, yeah, that's a goodun.
Why are Heat Sinks Mostly Made of Aluminum?
Heat sinks, which are commonly used in electronic devices to dissipate heat, are often made of aluminum due to several reasons.
Firstly, aluminum is an excellent conductor of heat. It has a high thermal conductivity, meaning it can efficiently transfer heat away from the heat-generating component to the surrounding environment. This helps in preventing overheating and ensures optimal performance and longevity of electronic devices.
Secondly, aluminum is lightweight and has a high strength-to-weight ratio. This makes it an ideal material for heat sinks as it does not add significant weight or bulk to the device while still providing effective heat dissipation.
Furthermore, aluminum is cost-effective compared to other materials such as copper or titanium. It is readily available and relatively inexpensive, making it a preferred choice for mass production of heat sinks.
Additionally, aluminum has good corrosion resistance properties. It forms a natural oxide layer that protects it from environmental factors such as moisture or humidity that could potentially degrade its performance over time.
Lastly, aluminum is easily machinable and can be formed into various shapes and sizes required for different electronic devices. This versatility allows manufacturers to design customized heat sink solutions that are tailored to specific requirements.
Overall, the combination of excellent thermal conductivity, lightweight nature, cost-effectiveness, corrosion resistance properties, and ease of fabrication make aluminum an ideal choice for manufacturing heat sinks in various electronic applications.
Why are Heat Sinks Mostly Made of Aluminum?
Heat sinks, which are commonly used in electronic devices to dissipate heat, are often made of aluminum due to several reasons.
Firstly, aluminum is an excellent conductor of heat. It has a high thermal conductivity, meaning it can efficiently transfer heat away from the heat-generating component to the surrounding environment. This helps in preventing overheating and ensures optimal performance and longevity of electronic devices.
Secondly, aluminum is lightweight and has a high strength-to-weight ratio. This makes it an ideal material for heat sinks as it does not add significant weight or bulk to the device while still providing effective heat dissipation.
Furthermore, aluminum is cost-effective compared to other materials such as copper or titanium. It is readily available and relatively inexpensive, making it a preferred choice for mass production of heat sinks.
Additionally, aluminum has good corrosion resistance properties. It forms a natural oxide layer that protects it from environmental factors such as moisture or humidity that could potentially degrade its performance over time.
Lastly, aluminum is easily machinable and can be formed into various shapes and sizes required for different electronic devices. This versatility allows manufacturers to design customized heat sink solutions that are tailored to specific requirements.
Overall, the combination of excellent thermal conductivity, lightweight nature, cost-effectiveness, corrosion resistance properties, and ease of fabrication make aluminum an ideal choice for manufacturing heat sinks in various electronic applications.
You could try calculating the density to determine the material. You already have the total weight. Next you need the total volume.
Use a container and fill it full of water and mark the 1st water fill line.
Next, fully submerge the item and mark the 2nd fill line.
Calculate the mathematical volume difference between the two marks.
Weight/volume = density.
Find the closest element on the periodic table.
Got kids/grandkids? Make a science experiment out of it.
Use a container and fill it full of water and mark the 1st water fill line.
Next, fully submerge the item and mark the 2nd fill line.
Calculate the mathematical volume difference between the two marks.
Weight/volume = density.
Find the closest element on the periodic table.
Got kids/grandkids? Make a science experiment out of it.
It is factually done in mobile vehicle docking applications. Companies like Havis make complete dock stations for vehicles from magnesium.
I managed a sizeable fleet of vehicles with computers in them for 5 years and we deployed a variety of docking solutions into vehicles which were either partly magnesium or completely magnesium sans the electronics inside the docks the heat generated by a laptop will not cause the magnesium to combust.
For your further education on the topic.
Use of Aluminum and Magnesium Heat Sinks for Cooling Electronic Circuitry
Nickel plated aluminum
More likely polished and sealed , no one is going to spend the money to plate aluminum for a part which isn't going to be seen, there is no thermal benefit to plating it .
Similar threads
