WHY USE ALUMINUM INSTEAD OF COPPER FOR RADIATORS?

Foam metal thermal properties include melting point, specific heat, thermal expansion coefficient, thermal conductivity, thermal diffusion coefficient, thermal radiation and thermal shock resistance, some of which are the same as the base material, while others are closely related to the porosity, hole type and pore diameter of the foam material.

Materials with good thermal conductivity tend to absorb heat quickly and dissipate it quickly, so if some systems need a lot of heat absorption or dissipation in use, use materials with good thermal conductivity. According to the pure metal thermal conductivity ranking, silver, copper, aluminum, tungsten, magnesium and other materials, while the thermal conductivity of the alloy is generally worse. It can be seen that the thermal conductivity of copper radiators in the best industrial metal.

So why do most radiators use aluminum and not copper?

Copper thermal conductivity is very good because it is quite a bit higher than that of aluminum, which is also true. But a radiator heat dissipation capacity depends not only on the thermal conductivity of the material, but also with the heat dissipation area, the shape of the radiator, air flow conditions and other circumstances.

Copper thermal conductivity is better because the thermal conductivity of copper is much higher than that of aluminum. But a radiator heat dissipation capacity depends not only on the thermal conductivity of the material, but also with the heat dissipation area, the shape of the radiator, air flow conditions and other circumstances.

Copper has a low specific heat capacity, it rises quickly and more easily dissipate heat. But the density of copper is 3.3 times that of aluminum, the radiator is about the size of the product, can not be infinitely larger, for the same volume, the weight of copper is greater.

Copper prices and aluminum prices are very large gap, such as a day LME copper open $ 9480 / ton, up to touch $ 9632 / ton; LME aluminum open $ 2470 / ton, up to touch $ 2510 / ton. It can be seen that copper prices are generally higher than aluminum prices about 3 times, and the same volume, copper usage and more than aluminum.

Many factors, the cost of copper radiators than aluminum radiators more than 400% more expensive, but in the selling price, the market is not acceptable 4 times the price of copper radiators.

So is there a material that can have the thermal conductivity of copper, volume, weight but comparable to aluminum?

Foamed copper may be a good new alternative material, which is uniformly distributed in the copper matrix with many connected and unconnected holes. Foamed copper has good electrical conductivity and ductility, and is prepared at low cost with good electrical conductivity.