Performance tests of Mn-added aluminum heat pipe with micro-sized inner fins and thermal fluid for cooling electronic device

Abstract

Aluminum-5 wt % manganese alloy heat pipe with a nano-fluid of n-butanol and 0.2 wt % carbon nano-tubes was prepared by deep-drawing, and its mechanical and corrosion properties were determined to improve thermal conductivity performance. The heat pipe was designed to have micro-sized inner fins working at temperature higher than 200°C and simultaneously retaining a similar thermal conductivity to that of pure aluminum. The heat pipe formed by aluminum-5 wt % manganese alloys had improved mechanical properties such as 38% micro-hardness, 45.8% yield strength, and 53.5 wt % ultimate tensile strength due to grain size refinement and work hardening effects. The corrosion rate of the aluminum alloy in artificial sea water at room temperature decreased from 0.110 mpy to 0.102 mpy. The nano-fluid of n-butanol and 0.2 wt % carbon nano-tubes improved the thermal conductivity of the heat-pipe by about 250%.