Side Pressed Fin Heat Sinks
The product family for small fin spacing and double-sided component mounting and cooling. (...)
Stainless Steel
Air and liquid coolers are primarily made of aluminum or copper due to their high thermal conductivity. However, some applications now require stainless steel as the base material due to particularly aggressive environmental conditions.
Importance & Advantages
Stainless steel is a versatile material frequently used for the production of heat sinks and liquid cooling plates in power electronics due to its excellent corrosion resistance and mechanical strength. Despite its lower thermal conductivity compared to materials like copper or aluminum, which ranges between 15-30 W/mK, stainless steel offers significant advantages in applications requiring high resistance to extreme environmental conditions, chemicals, and moisture. Stainless steel is particularly well-suited for use in the chemical, pharmaceutical, and food industries, as well as in marine environments where heat sinks are exposed to aggressive substances and corrosive influences. Another advantage of stainless steel is its high mechanical strength and resistance to mechanical stress and thermal tension, making it an ideal choice for applications requiring high structural integrity and durability. Stainless steel is also easy to process and offers an appealing, aesthetic appearance, often preferred in designs with high surface quality requirements.
Material Alloy & Application
Despite its lower thermal conductivity, stainless steel can improve thermal performance when combined with other materials or through the use of special designs, such as embedded heat pipes or additional thermal plates, while retaining its high corrosion resistance. In liquid cooling plates, stainless steel is often used as an outer material to ensure robust and leak-proof construction, while inner thermal structures made of copper or aluminum ensure thermal efficiency. Stainless steel also offers high resistance to abrasion and erosion, which is especially important in applications with high coolant flow rates. The longevity and low maintenance requirements of stainless steel help reduce operational costs over the lifespan of the components. Due to its versatility, robustness, and resistance, stainless steel is an indispensable material for specialized heat sink solutions that must reliably operate in demanding and harsh environments.
