Why Nickel Plating on HSF bases?

[seriouscat]

I was reading on benchmarkreviews.com that nickel is quite a bit worse than aluminium & copper at conducting/dissipating heat.

So can some explain why most HSF manfacturers that use Copper Heat pipes end up Nickel Plating the base of the HSF? They also mention it as a "feature", making it sound like its supposed to improve things?

Can some cooling guru please clarify this for me?

Cheers.

 

[frostedflakes]

The nickel coating is to prevent oxidation that could hurt heat transfer.

 

[Cheezeit]

Yep, frosted flakes said it. You can see that exposed copper gets kind of grimy after being exposed to the air, which is oxidation.

 

[aigomorla]

Originally posted by: frostedflakes
The nickel coating is to prevent oxidation that could hurt heat transfer.

actually once sink is mounted and tim is applied, there is very little air inside for oxidation to occur.

the nickle is all bling. Its so your sink doesnt look ugly over time as it does oxidize, but offers no protection or improvement to its performance.

 

[tigersty1e]

I don't think oxidation hurts heat transfer.

It's all for bling. The oxidation only effects the very outside of the heatsink.

 

[BTRY B 529th FA BN]

They use nickle mixed in with copper on the propellers of modern navy ships. Not only does it stop that sea buildup but it helps them from rusting... from what I vaguely remember.

 

[Rubycon]

Originally posted by: BTRY B 529th FA BN
They use nickle mixed in with copper on the propellers of modern navy ships. Not only does it stop that sea buildup but it helps them from rusting... from what I vaguely remember.

Nickel blended with bronze is a moderator to retard patinic pitting which can augment cavitation which is a screw destroyer and robs efficiency.

 

[DrMrLordX]

Originally posted by: tigersty1e
I don't think oxidation hurts heat transfer.

It's all for bling. The oxidation only effects the very outside of the heatsink.

Oxidation would hurt heat transfer if there were any significant risk of the above. The thermal conductivity of cuprous/cupric oxide is lower than that of pure copper.

But, as aigomorla indicated, there won't be much oxidation if the cooler is installed with a proper application of TIM. If you left the base exposed to open air for any extended period of time, then yes, oxidation could occur, though whether or not the layer of resulting oxidized copper would be thick enough to matter is anyone's guess.

 

[RallyMaster]

Mostly for that mirror finish look.

 

[pcgeek11]

Originally posted by: BTRY B 529th FA BN
They use nickle mixed in with copper on the propellers of modern navy ships. Not only does it stop that sea buildup but it helps them from rusting... from what I vaguely remember.

USN has never used copper for propelers on ships... too soft. Bronze and nickle only. What is " Sea Buildup" ? You must be talking about the green patina formed on copper, bronze, and brass over time when exposed to O2 and/or Seawater called Vertigris. In any event Copper Brass nor Bronze rust and never have.


Sorry I couldn't help myself USN Retired in 1993.

pcgeek11

 

[marincounty]

I worked for the Navy some time ago, and we had some important deck parts go through a special nickel-plating process to protect them from sea water, steam and caustic fluids.
The initial layer of electroplated nickel is supposed to be virtually free of cracks which allow water to get underneath the plating and cause corrosion. That's why they use nickel and not chrome, which has all kinds of cracks.

It seems to me that having the whole heatsink nickel plated is a good idea, to prevent corrosion on the part of the heatsink that is transferring heat to the air. You sacrifice a little bit of efficiency all of the time, to prevent major deterioration in cooling over time.

 

[BonzaiDuck]

ThermalRight techs said something about "protecting the solder joints for the heatpipes." There are some web-posts which give a run-down on the thermal-conductivity issue, and also the use of nickel as a corrosion-inhibitor showing its proximity to copper on the "Galvanic Table." On a table of thermal-resistance or thermal conductivity, the two metals are much farther apart, and getting rid of the nickel through lapping is the way to go-- for both heat-sink base and the processor IHS.

LAP THAT SUCKER!

 

[Suspicious-Teach8788]

Nickel is more resistant to corrosion. Pure copper corrodes in no time.

 

[aigomorla]

Originally posted by: DLeRium
Nickel is more resistant to corrosion. Pure copper corrodes in no time.

what are you worrying about corrosion from?

If the sink is ontop of the cpu, and there is tim in the middle to remove air gaps why would corrosion be an issue?

nickle plating if anything makes things look better as they age. Copper turns brown after a while. Nickle wont.