Graphite foam cored thermal management components

High power density radar T/R module and solid state electronic power device heat fluxes are exceeding 100 W/cm ², forcing the consideration of new types of active and passive thermal management devices. The reported work will demonstrate the results of MDA SBIR supported developments of bonded graphite foam core cold plates. The presentation will feature MRi's active solder fabrication technology that has been used to join the graphite foams to a range of materials. The presentation will highlight and discuss the performance of the fabricated cold plates. These devices are significantly lighter, smaller and offer higher performance than current thermal management devices. The paper will present materials processing and joining fabrication and thermal test results on fabricated cold plates. The foamed graphite is based on ORNL's patented technology (licensed and produced by Poco Graphite), which forms a highly conductive graphitic foam with inter-pore webs that have highly conductive graphitic structures to enhance heat transfer into fluids that pass through the pores in the foam.