Aluminum Chipset Heatsink Diffusion Cooling Fin Comb Heat Sink Cooler

Aluminum Heatsink for Chipset Cooling

This heatsink is extruded from aluminum and prepared to sit directly on a chipset, board-level component or module that needs its heat spread away. A comb of parallel fins rises from a solid base; heat conducts from the base into the fins, and air moving across the gaps carries it clear of the assembly.

Extruded Fin Comb Construction

The body is formed by hot extrusion, pressing heated aluminum through a shaped die so the base and fins emerge as a single piece. There is no bond line between fin and base, so the thermal path has no interface material to dry out or de-laminate. Extrusion also allows long profiles to be cut to length, which keeps cost low for parts that are simple in section.

Why Aluminum

Aluminum conducts heat well and weighs roughly a third of copper for the same volume, so a sink can be made large enough to spread heat without adding significant load to the board. The surface is normally clear or black anodized; the anodized layer adds mild corrosion protection and, in black, raises surface emissivity so the sink also radiates heat in still air.

Fin Geometry and Airflow

Fin count, fin height and gap width set how well the sink performs. Narrow gaps give more surface area but need moving air to be effective, while wider gaps suit natural convection where air must rise freely between the fins. Ducting or a fan should push air along the fin channels rather than across the tips, and the sink is best oriented so the channels run in the direction of the natural chimney flow.

Mounting

Depending on the application the sink is fixed with spring clips, push pins, screws or a thermal adhesive. Whichever is used, the mating faces must be flat and clean, and a thermal interface material such as paste, pad or phase-change sheet is applied to fill the microscopic gaps between sink and component. Clamping force should be even so the base does not rock.

Typical Applications

• Chipsets, processors and memory modules
• LED drivers and power conversion boards
• Motor drivers and inverter modules
• Set-top boxes and network equipment
• Test fixtures and instrument enclosures

Quality Control

Finished sinks are checked for base flatness, fin straightness and burrs along the cut ends. Base flatness matters most, because a concave or twisted base leaves an air gap that no interface material can fully bridge.

Ordering Information

Confirm the base dimensions, fin height and count, overall length, surface finish and mounting style when enquiring, together with any flatness tolerance or interface material the assembly requires.