Co-Extruded Microchannel Heat Pipes

摘要

A method for generating a microchannel heat pipe on a substrate surface includes co-extruding a primary material and a secondary material such that the primary material forms side walls that are spaced apart by the secondary material to form a composite structure. After the primary material hardens, the secondary material is removed, whereby the hardened primary material forms a pipe body structure having an elongated central channel defined between opposing end openings. A working fluid is then inserted into the elongated central channel, and sealing structures are then formed over both end openings to encapsulate the working fluid. The co-extrusion process is modified such that the side and upper walls are self-formed either while flowing inside a co-extrusion printhead, or immediately upon exiting the printhead.

主权项

1. A method for producing a microchannel heat pipe on a substrate, the method comprising:
co-extruding a primary material and a secondary material onto a surface of the substrate such that the first and second materials form an elongated composite structure having a first end and a second end, the elongated composite structure including first and second elongated side portions extending between the first and second ends and consisting of the primary material, and a central bead consisting of the secondary material that entirely fills an elongated central region disposed between first and second elongated side portions; removing the central bead from the elongated central region, thereby defining an elongated central channel disposed between spaced-apart first and second elongated side wall portions such that the elongated central region extends between first and second end openings respectively defined at the defined at the first end and the second end; disposing a working fluid inside the elongated central channel; and sealing the elongated central channel such that the working fluid is contained inside the elongated central channel, wherein the primary material and the secondary material are formulated such that a portion of the primary material forms an upper portion during said co-extrusion that is supported by the central bead, and wherein co-extruding the primary and secondary materials further comprises curing the primary material such that said cured first and second elongated side portions respectively form first and second rigid side walls, and such that said cured upper portion forms a rigid upper wall extending between upper ends of said first and second side walls, whereby subsequent removal of the central bead forms a rigid pipe body having an elongated central channel defined by said upper wall, said first and second side walls, and a portion of the substrate surface.