Benefits of Extruded Heatsinks

What makes extruded aluminium heatsinks so hot. Or cool.

Extruded heatsinks are the most common type of heatsink used today. They are made by forcing aluminium through a die to create a desired shape.

Extruded heatsinks offer a number of benefits over other types of heatsinks, including:

  • Cost-effectiveness: Extruded heatsinks are relatively straightforward to produce, meaning that are much more cost-effective than other methods of heatsink production. The other contributing factor to the cost-effectiveness is that aluminium is an abundant metal.

  • High thermal performance: Extruded heatsinks have excellent thermal conductivity, allowing them to dissipate heat efficiently.

  • Lightweight: Extruded heat sinks are made of aluminium, which is a very lightweight metal. This makes them ideal for applications where weight is a concern.

  • Design flexibility: Extruded heat sinks can be manufactured in a wide variety of shapes and sizes. This allows them to be customised to fit the specific needs of an application.

  • Durability: Extruded heat sinks are made of a durable aluminium alloy that can withstand harsh environmental conditions. Aluminium itself is corrosion-resistant to a remarkable degree.

Applications of extruded heatsinks

Extruded heat sinks are used in a wide variety of applications, including:

  • Computers: Extruded heat sinks are used to cool CPUs, GPUs, and other electronic components in computers.

  • Electronics: Extruded heat sinks are used to cool a variety of electronic components, such as transistors, diodes, and capacitors.

  • Industrial machinery: Extruded heat sinks are used to cool motors, generators, and other industrial machinery.

  • Automotive: Extruded heat sinks are used to cool electronic components in automobiles, such as engine control units and power modules.

  • Lighting: Extruded heat sinks are used to cool LED lamps and other lighting fixtures.

Benefits of extruded heatsinks for specific applications

Extruded heatsinks offer a number of benefits for specific applications, including:

  • Computers: Extruded heatsinks can help to improve the performance of computers by keeping electronic components cool. This can lead to increased processing speeds and longer battery life.

  • Electronics: Extruded aluminium heatsinks can help to extend the lifespan of electronic components by preventing them from overheating. This is especially important for high-performance components, which are more susceptible to heat damage.

  • Industrial machinery: Extruded heatsinks can help to improve the efficiency and reliability of industrial machinery by keeping them cool. This can lead to reduced downtime and increased productivity.

  • Automotive: Extruded heatsinks can help to reduce fuel consumption and emissions by improving the performance of automotive engines.

  • Lighting: Extruded heatsinks can help to prolong the lifespan of LED lamps and other lighting fixtures by preventing them from overheating.

Case studies

The following case studies demonstrate the benefits of extruded heatsinks in specific applications:

  • Case study 1: A computer manufacturer was using a bonded heat sink to cool its CPUs. However, the bonded heat sink was expensive and difficult to manufacture. The manufacturer switched to an extruded heat sink, which was less expensive and easier to manufacture. The extruded heat sink also performed better than the bonded heat sink, resulting in improved computer performance.

  • Case study 2: A manufacturer of electronic components was using a forced air heat sink to cool its power modules. However, the forced air heat sink was noisy and required a lot of power. The manufacturer switched to an extruded heat sink, which was quieter and more energy-efficient. The extruded heat sink also performed better than the forced air heat sink, resulting in increased lifespan of the power modules.

  • Case study 3: A manufacturer of industrial machinery was using a passive heat sink to cool its motors. However, the passive heat sink was not effective enough, resulting in frequent motor failure. The manufacturer switched to an extruded heat sink, which was more effective at cooling the motors. The extruded heat sink also had a longer lifespan than the passive heat sink, reducing downtime and increasing productivity.

Conclusion

Extruded heatsinks offer a number of benefits over other types of heatsinks, including cost-effectiveness, high thermal performance, lightweight design flexibility, and durability. Extruded heat sinks are used in a wide variety of applications, including computers, electronics, industrial machinery, automotive, and lighting.

Additional benefits of extruded heatsinks

In addition to the benefits listed above, extruded heat sinks also offer the following advantages:

  • Scalability: Extruded heat sinks can be manufactured in a wide range of sizes and shapes, making them scalable to a variety of applications.

  • Customization: Extruded heat sinks can be customised to fit the specific needs of an application. This includes adding features such as mounting holes, fins, and channels.

  • Ease of manufacture: Extruded heatsinks are relatively easy to manufacture, which helps to keep costs down.

  • Recyclability: Extruded heats


Extruded aluminium heatsinks