Which is better in thermal transfer? copper or aluminium? please explain.?

Question

Which is better in thermal transfer? copper or aluminium? please explain.?

Answer 1

If you are looking for a material to transfer or radiate out excess heat (a heat sink), use aluminum. Aluminum has a lower heat conductivity than copper because it absorbs heat fast and radiates it out equally fast. So it is a better heat sink than copper.

Answer 2

Copper has a much better thermal conductivity.

Al is 2.37 watts/cm°C

Cu is 3.98 watts/cm°C

So Cu conducts 1.68 times more heat than Al

http://www.ee.byu.edu/cleanroom/thermal_...

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Answer 3

While it is true that for the usual definition of thermal conductivity, copper is better than aluminum, eddie does have a point, though he didn't explain it. Since aluminum is both less dense and cheaper than copper, if weight or price is an important factor in determining "better in thermal transfer" for your application, then aluminum should be at least considered, but if size is the only criteria, then copper is clearly the  better of the two.

Answer 4

Copper is a better medium for heat transfer because its thermal conductivity (W/m-K) is higher than Aluminum.

Answer 5

Aluminum

it is less dense

Answer 6

Copper has a thermal conductivity of 401 W/m/K

Aluminum has a thermal conductivity of 237W/m/K

Therefore copper is better for thermal transfer

This is a list of approximate values of thermal conductivity, k, for some common materials. This list goes from least conductive at the top to most conductive at the bottom.

Material                      Thermal conductivity  W/(m·K)  

Cement, Portland [1]              0.29

Concrete, stone [1]                 1.7

Air                                               0.025

Wood                                      0.04 - 0.4

Alcohols and oils                       0.1 - 0.21

Silica Aerogel                      0.004-0.03

Soil                                        1.5

Rubber0.16

Epoxy (unfilled)0.19

LPG0.23 - 0.26

Epoxy (silica-filled)0.30

Water (liquid)0.6

Thermal grease0.7 - 3

Thermal epoxy1 - 4

Glass1.1

Ice2

Sandstone2.4

Stainless steel[2]12.11 ~ 45.0

Lead35.3

Aluminium237

Gold318

Copper401

Silver429

Diamond900 - 2320

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