Layered Phase Change Composite for Thermal Management
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Solution Overview
Problem
Electronic devices face challenges in managing heat due to increased power density and temperature-sensitive components, requiring effective thermal management solutions to prevent performance degradation and system failure.
Innovation Solution
A layered phase change composite is developed, comprising a phase change material, boron nitride particles, and a binder, with capping layers on either side, which enhances thermal conductivity and latent heat capacity, allowing for improved heat transfer and management.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Use of energy by moving object
If phase change material is used alone, then latent heat capacity is improved, but thermal conductivity is insufficient for rapid heat transfer
Solution Approach 1:
The patent creates a composite material combining phase change material with boron nitride particles (having high thermal conductivity) and a binder. This composite structure allows the material to simultaneously achieve high latent heat capacity from the phase change material and high thermal conductivity from the boron nitride particles, resolving the contradiction between energy storage and heat transfer rates.
2Volume of moving object
If electronic components are densely packed to reduce device size, then device miniaturization is improved, but heat generation intensity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The composite material integrates phase change material for heat absorption with boron nitride particles for efficient heat conduction. This allows densely packed electronic components to be managed effectively, as the composite can rapidly conduct and store heat generated by high-density component arrangements, enabling device miniaturization without thermal management failures.
Solution Approach 2:
The phase change material undergoes phase transition (e.g., solid-liquid) at specific temperatures, absorbing large amounts of latent heat during the transition. This phase change mechanism provides dynamic thermal regulation that can handle the intense heat generation from densely packed components, maintaining operational temperatures even in miniaturized devices with high power density.
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 composite provides enhanced thermal stability, reducing heat buildup and extending the lifetime of electronic devices by facilitating faster heat transfer and management, thus preventing performance degradation.
Implementation Method 1
A phase change material (PCM) is a substance with a high heat of fusion that can absorb and release high amounts of latent heat during a phase transition, such as melting and solidification, respectively. During the phase change, the temperature of the phase change material (referred to herein as the transition temperature) can remain nearly constant, essentially inhibiting or stopping the flow of thermal energy through the material.
Implementation Method 2
Including the boron nitride particles in the phase change layer resulted in a surprising increase in the transfer rate of heat into and out of the phase change layer. The combination of the boron nitride particles and the phase change material can be particularly advantageous for use as a thermal management material, especially in electronics, in that a high crystallinity of the phase change material can allow for a combination of high latent heat capacity and energy absorption, while the boron nitride can introduce higher thermal conductivity and electrical insulation.
Data Source
AI summary
In an aspect, a layered phase change composite comprises a phase change layer comprising a phase change material, a plurality of boron nitride particles, and a binder; and a first capping layer and a second capping layer located on opposing sides of the phase change layer. In another aspect, a method of making the layered phase change composite comprises forming the first capping layer from a first composition; forming the phase change layer from a phase change composition, wherein the forming the phase change layer comprises vibrating the phase change composition on a 3-directional vibration stage; and forming the second capping layer from a second composition.