Anybody know a lot about MERCURY? (The metal)

Toggle sidebar Toggle sidebar
B

Brutuskend

Lifer
Apr 2, 2001
26,558
4
0
In my journeys though geek-dome I found that silver is a better heat sink than copper (or just about anything as I understand).

Well awhile back I tried this theory out on one of my computers. I made a copper plate for a shim and on top of that I put a piece of solid silver I bought someplace, then on top of that I installed my heat sink and fan. Well I don't know how much if any if helped, but it didn't seem to hurt. ;)

Anyway, another big factor in heat sink efficiency is the fit between the heat sink and the CPU core right? So last night I started thinking back on my younger days and playing with mercury, (NOT A GOOD IDEA AS I FOUND OUT LATER) anyway I remembered coating silver dimes and quarters with mercury. The stuff bonds right to the silver and coats it quite well, leaving a thin Mercury layer over everything.

So I started thinking about how well something like that would work for the whole CPU heat sink thing. Coating the silver with mercury would insure a tight fit between the heat sink and the CPU, and as the CPU heated up, because of the mercury expanding as it does under heat, it would make the fit tighter. Also is I understand heat dissipation and molecular structure, wouldn't Mercury actually dissipate heat better since the molecules would get wider apart as the stuff expanded? (Does that explanation make sense?)

Obviously you wouldn't want to use to much and have is run off the CPU and short things out....)
 
Mo0o

Mo0o

Lifer
Jul 31, 2001
24,227
3
76
How about some AS5? I dnt think mercury is something anyone should be messing with
 
F

FleshLight

Diamond Member
Mar 18, 2004
6,883
0
71
Originally posted by: Brutuskend
In my journeys though geek-dome I found that silver is a better heat sink than copper (or just about anything as I understand).

Well awhile back I tried this theory out on one of my computers. I made a copper plate for a shim and on top of that I put a piece of solid silver I bought someplace, then on top of that I installed my heat sink and fan. Well I don't know how much if any if helped, but it didn't seem to hurt. ;)

Anyway, another big factor in heat sink efficiency is the fit between the heat sink and the CPU core right? So last night I started thinking back on my younger days and playing with mercury, (NOT A GOOD IDEA AS I FOUND OUT LATER) anyway I remembered coating silver dimes and quarters with mercury. The stuff bonds right to the silver and coats it quite well, leaving a thin Mercury layer over everything.

So I started thinking about how well something like that would work for the whole CPU heat sink thing. Coating the silver with mercury would insure a tight fit between the heat sink and the CPU, and as the CPU heated up, because of the mercury expanding as it does under heat, it would make the fit tighter. Also is I understand heat dissipation and molecular structure, wouldn't Mercury actually dissipate heat better since the molecules would get wider apart as the stuff expanded? (Does that explanation make sense?)

Obviously you wouldn't want to use to much and have is run off the CPU and short things out....)
Click to expand...

Whatever contains the mercury won't be very efficient unless it's extremely thin. That and the fact that mercury is extremely dangerous and people are idiots = no burrito.
 
M

mwtgg

Lifer
Dec 6, 2001
10,491
0
0
Originally posted by: Mo0o
How about some AS5? I dnt think mercury is something anyone should be messing with
Click to expand...

I don't know, Mercury chased with cyanide is awesome.
 
S

sniperruff

Lifer
Apr 17, 2002
11,644
2
0
i think mercury vapor is toxic, therefore you certainly should not use it in a heatsink.

i should just steal a can of liquid nitrogen and use that... =)
 
N

neonerd

Diamond Member
Apr 24, 2003
8,746
1
0
the conceptual idea behind that sounds like something that would work, however keeping mercury out like that and inside your computer may not produce favorable results to the person sitting next to it. Although your computer may cool a little better, I imagine it wouldn't make a huge difference; and even if it did, not worth the risk :)
 
B

Brutuskend

Lifer
Apr 2, 2001
26,558
4
0
On the bright side, I got my new BIOS chip, installed it and I now have my 2100 +XP B core running @2.29 :)

It's a bit hotter than I would like to see it though, hence my thought process about the heat sink thingy. ;)

Guess I'll just wait till my Volcano 10+ comes....
 
P

Pepsi90919

Lifer
Oct 9, 1999
25,162
1
81
She is trapped inside a month of grey
And they take a little every day
She is a victim of her own responses
Shackled to a heart that wants to settle
And then runs away
It's a sin to be fading endlessly
Yeah, but she's alright with me

She is leaving on a walkaway
She is leaving me in disarray
In the absence of a place to be
She stands there looking back at me
Hesitates, and then turns away
She'll change so suddenly
She's just like mercury
Yeah, but she's alright with me

Keep some sorrow in your hearts and minds
For the things that die before their time
For the restlessly abandoned homes
The tired and weary rambler's bones
And stay beside me where I lie
She's entwined in me
Crazy as can be
Yeah, but she's alright with me
 
B

Brutuskend

Lifer
Apr 2, 2001
26,558
4
0
OK, so I'll leave out the Mercury. ;)

I am building a 2x2x2 copper pyramid that's gonna be my home made water block.

I'll post pics when it's done.

We'll see if there's anything to this pyramid power crap. :)
 
N

neonerd

Diamond Member
Apr 24, 2003
8,746
1
0
I like the idea....other than the mercury part; any other metals that react to heat like mercury does?

oh, and DOESN'T produce toxic fumes ;)
 
ActuaryTm

ActuaryTm

Diamond Member
Mar 30, 2003
6,858
12
81
Originally posted by: MercenaryForHire
I started thinking back on my younger days and playing with mercury

Well, that explains a lot.
Click to expand...
Ten minutes later, am still laughing.

As to address the original idea, sounds very much like the concept of phase changing materials, which is not all that new of a concept. Also agree with Howard. Mercury is not the ideal conductor of heat.

More information regarding phase changing compounds (not sinks themselves) here.
 
You must log in or register to reply here.

TRENDING THREADS

COMPANY
RESOURCES
FOLLOW
Top Bottom