Graphite-based heat sink

• US 6,503,626 B1
• Filed: 06/16/2000
• Issued: 01/07/2003
• Est. Priority Date: 02/25/2000
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Graftech, Incorporated
• Original Assignee: Graftech, Incorporated
• Inventors: Tzeng, Jing-Wen, Klug, Jeremy, Norley, Julian
• Primary Examiner(s): Jones, Deborah
• Assistant Examiner(s): BOSS, WENDY L
• Application Number:
  US09/595,754
• Time in Patent Office: 935 Days
• Field of Search: 428/408, 428/131, 361/709, 165/905, 165/907, 165/185, 257/712, 257/722, 264/109, 264/118, 264/119, 264/128, 264/239, 264/340, 423/414
• US Class Current: 428/408
• CPC Class Codes: F28F 21/02 of carbon, e.g. graphite
• CPC Class Codes: H01L 21/4871 Bases, plates or heatsinks
• CPC Class Codes: H01L 21/4882 Assembly of heatsink parts
• CPC Class Codes: H01L 23/373 Cooling facilitated by selection of materials for the device or materials for thermal expansion adaptation, e.g. carbon
• CPC Class Codes: H01L 23/3733 having a heterogeneous or anisotropic structure, e.g. powder or fibres in a matrix, wire mesh, porous structures H01L23/3732, H01L23/3737 take precedence
• CPC Class Codes: H01L 2924/00 Indexing scheme for arrangements or methods for connecting or disconnecting semiconductor or solid-state bodies as covered by H01L24/00
• CPC Class Codes: H01L 2924/0002 Not covered by any one of groups H01L24/00, H01L24/00 and H01L2224/00
• CPC Class Codes: Y10S 165/905 Materials of manufacture
• CPC Class Codes: Y10S 165/907 Porous
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 428/24273 including aperture
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 428/24744 Longitudinal or transverse tubular cavity or cell
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 428/30 Self-sustaining carbon mass or layer with impregnant or other layer

Abstract

The present invention relates to a system for managing the heat from a heat source like an electronic component. More particularly, the present invention relates to a system effective for dissipating the heat generated by an electronic component using a heat sink formed from a compressed, comminuted particles of resin-impregnated flexible graphite mat or sheet.

Claims

1. A heat sink comprising a graphite article shaped so as to provide a heat collection surface and at least one heat dissipation surface, wherein arranging the heat collection surface of the graphite article in operative connection with a heat source causes dissipation of heat from the heat source through the at least one heat dissipation surface of the graphite article, and further wherein the graphite article is formed from comminuted resin-impregnated flexible natural graphite sheet compressed into the desired shape.

2. The heat sink of claim 1 wherein the at least one heat dissipation surface of the graphite article comprises fins formed at a surface of the graphite article opposite the heat collection surface.

3. The heat sink of claim 1 wherein the graphite article has structural features comprising cavities therein, holes therethrough or combinations of cavities therein and holes therethrough, the at least one heat dissipation surface of the graphite article comprising surfaces of the structural features.

4. The heat sink of claim 1 wherein the graphite article comprises resin-impregnated flexible sheets of compressed particles of exfoliated natural graphite comminuted and then compressed into a desired shape.

5. The heat sink of claim 4 wherein the resin comprises an epoxy resin or a mixture of epoxy resins.

6. A heat sink produced by the process comprising:

a. compressing exfoliated natural graphite particles into a mat having a thickness of about 0.025 to about 25 mm;

b. impregnating the mat with resin to form an impregnated body;

c. comminuting the impregnated body into particles; and

d. compressing the particles of impregnated body into a graphite heat sink.

7. The heat sink of claim 6, wherein the mat is compressed into a flexible graphite sheet having a thickness of about 0.025 to about 4 mm prior to impregnation with the resin.

8. The heat sink of claim 6, wherein the impregnated body is compressed into a flexible graphite sheet having a thickness of about 0.025 to about 4 mm prior to being comminuted.

9. The heat sink of claim 6, wherein the impregnated body is comminuted into particles to form particles of impregnated body having an average diameter such that a majority of the particles will pass through a 20 U.S. mesh.

10. The heat sink of claim 6, wherein the heat sink is machined into a desired shape.