Top-class cooling performance

25 percent more performance than fan-assisted solutions – that's what liquid heat sinks are capable of. With its wide range of manufacturing processes, CTX makes it possible to tailor the strengths of the most efficient cooling concept currently available to meet a variety of requirements.

The advantages of liquid heat sinks lie in their design. Typical examples are aluminum cooling plates with embedded copper, stainless steel, or aluminum tubes in which a coolant circulates. With their small footprint, they are mounted directly in the hotspot, from where they dissipate more heat in a very short time than any other cooling system. This makes them high-performance heat sinks for applications with high heat generation. CTX Thermal Solutions uses three examples to demonstrate how this principle can be precisely adapted to meet specific needs.

For Large-Scale Production: Complex Geometries at Low Unit Costs

Where liquid heat sinks are required in large series, CTX manufactures the cooling plate using aluminum die casting. The strength of this process: aluminum is injected under pressure at a defined speed into the die-casting tool, which determines the precise shape of the cooling element. This allows multiple heat sinks to be manufactured in a single process. Even complex geometries are economically feasible this way. The tube simply needs to be pressed into the preformed grooves.

For high-end applications: Lightweight solutions without tooling costs

When it comes to cooling in high-end applications, CTX creates liquid heat sinks using vacuum brazing, known as vacuum brazed technology. This connects the molecular structures of modules. The result is heat sinks with minimal contact resistance and durable connections. For liquid heat sinks, this process involves milling cooling channels into two plates and then brazing them together. While maintaining the same technical properties, these brazed heat sinks are up to 40 percent lighter and more compact than conventional die-cast heat sinks.
For small and medium-sized series: High thermal conductivity and high density

Another option is liquid heat sinks with drawn cooling channels. These are manufactured at CTX using an extrusion process. Heated aluminum or copper is pressed through a die at high pressure. This forming tool defines the plate with its internal channels. The plates are cut from the resulting six- to seven-meter-long profile strand. The heat sink is then sealed at the sides or integrated into the cooling system. Relatively thin-walled shapes can be produced. Thermal conductivity ranges from 180 W/mK (continuously cast aluminum alloy) to 400 W/mK (pure copper).

Consulting and Development

With its technical expertise, CTX supports its customers in utilizing the advantages of liquid heat sinks for their applications. Based on the key data such as power dissipation, installation space, and manufacturing specifications, the company develops heat sinks that precisely meet the requirements in terms of shape, material, and manufacturing process. The range of services extends from new development and implementation according to drawing specifications to thermal simulation and complete logistical processing.