Liquid Metal Phase-Change Composites for Stable Heat Transport
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Solution Overview
Problem
It is challenging to incorporate liquid metals into composites due to their unique properties, such as high or low viscosity and corrosion resistance, which affects their use in applications like thermostats and heat transfer systems.
Innovation Solution
Development of self-supporting composites comprising a solid phase material and a phase change material, where the solid phase material provides structural support and the phase change material transitions between solid and liquid states, maintaining thermal impedance and mechanical integrity.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Use of energy by moving object
If liquid metals are incorporated into composites, then thermal conductivity is improved, but mechanical stability deteriorates due to their unique properties such as high or low viscosity and corrosion resistance
Solution Approach 1:
The patent creates a composite material combining liquid metal with porous solid substrate. The liquid metal provides high thermal conductivity while the porous solid structure provides mechanical support and stability, resolving the contradiction between thermal performance and mechanical stability.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent employs a porous solid substrate with controlled porosity to support the liquid metal. The porous structure provides mechanical integrity while allowing the liquid metal to maintain its thermal conductivity properties, effectively resolving the stability-conductivity trade-off.
2Use of energy by moving object
If phase change material is used to maintain thermal impedance, then heat transport is improved, but structural support deteriorates when temperature exceeds melt point
Solution Approach 1:
The patent combines phase change material with porous solid substrate to create a composite that maintains both thermal performance and structural support. The porous solid provides mechanical strength while the phase change material handles thermal impedance, allowing the system to function above the melt point.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent utilizes the phase change properties of the material to maintain thermal impedance. By controlling the phase transition temperature and using the porous structure to provide mechanical support, the system maintains functional properties above the melt point through parameter control.
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 composites exhibit improved thermal conductivity and mechanical stability, allowing for effective heat transport across interfaces without chemical reaction or deformation, even at temperatures above the melt point of the phase change material.
Implementation Method 1
the phase change material transitions between solid and liquid states, maintaining thermal impedance and mechanical integrity
Implementation Method 2
the solid phase material comprises an open pore volume of less than 90 vol %
Implementation Method 3
The composites exhibit improved thermal conductivity and mechanical stability, allowing for effective heat transport across interfaces
Data Source
AI summary
The present disclosure generally relates to certain compositions having components that can become liquid or exhibit a phase change during use, and methods related to the same. These can be used, for example, as thermal interface materials for various applications. Certain thermal interface materials such as those discussed herein may represent a new structure in which the material is solid, but becomes liquid during use, which may improve heat transport, for example, because the liquid improves contact or binding of surfaces, thereby allowing improved heat transport across interfaces between surfaces. For example, in some cases, the composition may be a composite of a solid phase material and a phase change material. In certain aspects, the phase change material exhibits a melt temperature, e.g., where the phase change material can transition from a liquid to a solid. The phase change material may include, for example, a metal, a metal oxide, a metal alloy, or the like. Other aspects generally relate to methods of making or using such compositions, kits including such compositions, or the like.