Segmented Graphite Thermal Transport Structure for Bendability
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Solution Overview
Problem
Conventional thermally conductive materials, such as metal foils, face challenges in flexibility and weight due to increased heat generation in electronic devices, and graphite composite materials suffer from reduced bendability and increased contact thermal resistance when stacked with or without bonding layers.
Innovation Solution
A thermal transport structure comprising multiple graphite sheets or composite sheets with fixing portions and a thermally conductive portion in between, where the sheets are partially bonded or in contact, allowing for improved bendability and heat dissipation while maintaining reliability against vibrations.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Ease of operation
If graphite sheets are stacked via adhesive to form a layer stack, then bendability is improved, but contact thermal resistance increases and heat conductivity deteriorates
Solution Approach 1:
The graphite composite material is segmented into multiple thin graphite sheets (1-100 μm thickness) stacked in layers. This segmentation allows the sheets to be flexible individually while maintaining high in-plane thermal conductivity, resolving the contradiction between bendability and heat conductivity that plagues conventional thick metal materials or poorly bonded graphite stacks.
Solution Approach 2:
An adhesive layer is introduced as an intermediary between graphite sheets to bond them together. The adhesive enables the sheets to maintain close contact for heat transfer while allowing the overall structure to bend, thus mediating between the conflicting requirements of thermal contact and mechanical flexibility.
2Ease of operation
If graphite sheets are stacked via no bonding layer, then bendability is maintained, but gap is produced between sheets and contact thermal resistance increases
Solution Approach 1:
An adhesive layer is introduced as an intermediary between graphite sheets to bond them together. The adhesive enables the sheets to maintain close contact for heat transfer while allowing the overall structure to bend, thus mediating between the conflicting requirements of thermal contact and mechanical flexibility.
3Reliability
If metal material thickness is increased to handle higher heat, then heat conductivity is improved, but flexibility decreases and weight increases
Solution Approach 1:
The graphite composite material is segmented into multiple thin graphite sheets (1-100 μm thickness) stacked in layers. This segmentation allows the sheets to be flexible individually while maintaining high in-plane thermal conductivity, resolving the contradiction between bendability and heat conductivity that plagues conventional thick metal materials or poorly bonded graphite stacks.
Solution Approach 2:
The invention uses a composite structure of multiple graphite sheets stacked together. Graphite inherently possesses high in-plane thermal conductivity and flexibility, and by stacking multiple thin sheets, the composite material achieves both high heat conductivity and flexibility, overcoming the limitations of thick metal materials.
4Reliability
If metal material thickness is increased to handle higher heat, then heat conductivity is improved, but weight increases
Solution Approach 1:
The invention uses a composite structure of multiple graphite sheets stacked together. Graphite inherently possesses high in-plane thermal conductivity and flexibility, and by stacking multiple thin sheets, the composite material achieves both high heat conductivity and flexibility, overcoming the limitations of thick metal materials.
Applied Scientific Principles
This section explains which scientific principles are used to turn an abstract innovation direction into a practical engineering solution.
Function Achieved in This Case
The structure achieves excellent bendability, heat dissipation, and lightweight properties while maintaining high reliability against vibrations, effectively addressing the limitations of existing materials.
Implementation Method 1
a thermally conductive material capable of transferring heat from a heat source to a cooling source
Implementation Method 2
graphite sheets are stacked via an adhesive or the like so as to form a layer stack
Data Source
Figure 1~2
Figure 3~4
Figure 5~6
AI summary
In order to provide a thermal transport structure excellent in bendability, heat dissipation property, and lightweight property and also a thermal transport structure having a high reliability against vibrations and an excellent heat transport performance, used is a thermal transport structure (5, 201) including stacked graphite sheets (1, 213). This thermal transport structure (5, 201) includes a fixing portion (10, 202, 301) in which the stacked graphite sheets (1, 213) are fixed to each other; and a thermally conductive portion (11, 203) in which the stacked graphite sheets (1, 213) are not fixed to each other.