Role of Aluminum for Heat Transfer Processes

Posted by Kyra Rodriguez on February 12th, 2020

The miracle metal, aluminum, is one of the most used materials in the world for almost countless purposes. While you might know of its importance in the aviation and automotive manufacturing industries, one lesser-known purpose that aluminum is best at is in heat transfer or exchange.

The basics of heat transfer

In the context of industrial processes, heat transfer would refer to the exchange of heat generated by a device to a different medium like a liquid coolant or air. This exchange disperses the generated heat and helps the device maintain a certain or desired level of temperature.

Using a heat sink as an example, there are several important factors that will affect its overall performance and efficiency: air velocity, the material it is made off, the design of its protrusion, and the surface treatment. 

Aluminum has two key qualities that make it optimal for heat transfer

The thermal conductivity of aluminum is only second to copper in terms of the most common metals used for industrial purposes. Aside from its excellent thermal conductivity, aluminum alloys are also very malleable. From complex shapes and dimensions to high-volume applications like foils, sheets, and fins, manufacturers can make heat sink designs that are tailored to a given client’s needs or requests.

How hot is too hot?

Metals, aluminum or otherwise, will still deform and even melt when exposed to a high enough temperature and for extended periods of time. This means that it’s essential that you know your material’s melting point and how much heat it can withstand before using it in an application.