Why Aluminium ranks above Copper for Making Heat Sink?

Ever wondered how your computer always remains “cool” even after continuously working for hours – The answer is simple – Due to Aluminium Heat Sink.

This extremely important component is used in a number of electronic and electrical equipments to “cool them off” in case of intense internal heating and avoid extreme situations like fire.

It is always Copper and Aluminium which are usually used for making the heat sinks – However, aluminium is a favorite choice among a majority of heat sink manufacturers.

And it is very much obvious; the amazing qualities of aluminium compel many manufacturers to use this metal for making heat sinks.

1. Absorbs Heat
   Aluminium is a very good conductor of heat – Putting in words of a science teacher; it allows the heat to pass through it, without any difficulties. It simply makes a way for the heat and “absorbs” it. Since, the fundamental function of a heat sink is to “cool off” the constantly working electrical or electronic equipment; Aluminium takes all the “excess” heat produce by the device and ensures that heat does not damage internal parts.
2. Highly Durable
   Aluminium is a tough metal – any changes in temperature hardly affects its basic structure; so it offers complete durability to the heat sinks which have to constantly act as a cooling material. It does not get withered off easily hence the cost of replacing it every now and then almost diminishes.
3. Aluminium is non-Magnetic
   Unlike other metals, aluminium is not magnetic – Since, it does not acquire any magnetic charge or create a magnetic field, aluminium heat sink is extremely useful for high-voltage electrical equipment as well as for electronics, where magnetic fields can create havoc.
4. No fear of catching fires
   Since, the heat sinks are primarily used to avoid the fire within the equipment – Aluminium is widely used. It is a non-combustible material; it does not burn even at extremely high temperatures. Moreover, it does not produce any toxic fumes; thus, it relatively safe.
5. Easy Availability
   Aluminium ranks third among the elements on Earth – Hence it is easily in abundance. Since, the raw material is in huge quantities, the problem of getting “out of stock” does not get into the way. Moreover, as the stock is in plenty in nature, the overall cost of procuring and processing it is much lower than the other rare or sort of rare elements. Thus, for end-users the final product is very cheap.