Heatpipes

[JezEngland]

Hello,

Cooler heatpipes don't work well forever. They have oxidation deterioration.

got this info from a Thermaltake CPU cooler review: Six sintered heatpipe design, all heatpipes are nickel plated to slow the oxidation deterioration of the heatpipe, to ensure longer usage and performance of the heatsink for the cpu.

I have 4 questions

How long does a standard heatpipe work well for when regularly used?

How long does a standard heatpipe remain properly usable when kept in storage?

How long does a nickel plated heatpipe work well for when regularly used?

How long does a nickel plated heatpipe remain properly usable when kept in storage?

got this info from a Thermaltake CPU cooler review: Six sintered heatpipe design, all heatpipes are nickel plated to slow the oxidation deterioration of the heatpipe, to ensure longer usage and performance of the heatsink for the cpu.

Thanks

 

[Stryker64]

Depends on humidity, temperture and exposure to potential catalysts. For instance if you have a 100% copper heatsink, it's best to wear gloves handling it, since the oils from your hand will accelerate oxidation. But on your standard aluminium heatsink, with aluminium heatpipes it will take a while for it oxides in normal conditions (normal being you don't live in the tropics next to the sea) since aluminium has a natural thin oxide layer protecting it. Nickel plating, just adds an extra layer of protection and will also act as a sacrificial metal in the event the heatpipe starts oxidizing.

So what does this mean? Well copper heatpipes, provided you don't touch them, will last AGES as in years. Aluminium is a lot more forgiving if you touch them. So what does the nick plated heatpipe do? Well they are mainly used with copper heatpipes since they act as a barrier from your hands (oils) to the copper. Also if there is a scratch the nickel will oxidize first thus increasing the time for the heatpipe to begin oxidizing.

So with proper handling you won't need nickel plating to increase the longevity of the heatpipes. But than why do people use it? To protect the heatsink from being mishandled and dark objects radiate better than lighter objects, which in theory will increase heat dissipation.

 

[JezEngland]

Thanks

 

[JezEngland]

I found some info. my cooler transfer heat from the base to the copper pipes, to the illuminum fins. so the info i found means that oxidation wont cause much interfearance with heat transfer. I think oxidised copper can be corrected/cleaned.

more question: is there a fluid in the heat-pipe?

Zeals wrote like a heat-pipe will perform well for years, please give an estimate about how many years?

Thanks

here is a link to the info i found: http://www.ehow.com/how-does_4597366_oxidation-affect-heat-transfer-copper.html

here is a paragraph from that page:

How Does Oxidation Affect Heat Transfer in Copper?

•This is entirely dependent upon the mode through which heat is transferred. Heat could be radiated outward into the surrounding air to heat another object, similar to that of a convection oven. Or the oxidized copper could be pressed directly against another medium and the heat could be transferred by physical contact. This is known as heat conduction. In the case of heat conduction, copper oxidation has almost no effect on the substance's ability to transfer heat. This is because the layer of the patina is so thin that the heat from the pure copper beneath radiates outward, covering any loss of heat transfer ability the patina may have had. In the case of heat convection, the results are very different. The oxidized layer slows the rate of heat transfer from the copper to the air to the object to be heated to 1/20th of the norm. This is because oxidized copper is a crystalline molecular structure rather than a mineral one. Crystalline structures are typically less able to transfer heat.

 

[lasher]

is this for a school project or are you just being curious?

When I stops working that's how long it lasts, hopefully longer than a year ofc

 

[JezEngland]

is this for a school project or are you just being curious?

When I stops working that's how long it lasts, hopefully longer than a year ofc

no it's not a school project.

hmm, i'm usin copper heatpipes so curiosity isn't the total interest. it's a need.

i've messaged Antec the question. I'll post the reply when I get it

if i use this PC in 20years will the cooler perform properly?

If there isn't fluid in the heatpipes i imagine it will. do they have fluid in them?

 

[Stryker64]

Ok first is the fluid in heatpipes? Yes and No. Depends on the company, Thermalright uses a special fluid in their heatpipes which allow them to perform so well, some other companies might as well, but I can't give you a list of those that do and those that don't. And I would imagine a cooler that has liquid as long as it's under constant use will keep working, since the fluid will continually being moved around so it won't set.

How long will is last? 5 years years at least probably longer. You have to keep in mind, while a copper pipe might corrode the corrosion is normally just superficial, so while the first tenth of a millimeter exposed to the air might oxidized, the rest of the heatpipe won't. Which is why ancient copper coins while they may seem discoloured and oxidized, with a little scrubbing you'll find nice shiny virgin copper underneath. Whether or not this superficial oxidation will affect cooling, I can't say, but I would think the difference will be small.

 

[JezEngland]

Thanks Zeals