Laser-pelted, citric acid-washed copper could boost heat transfer

November 11, 2021

Microscopic mounds formed from a copper surface struck by 719 laser pulses and later treated with citric acid.
Microscopic mounds formed from a copper surface struck by 719 laser pulses and later treated with citric acid.
Thermal Science and Engineering Progress / Elsevier

The principle of pool boiling — heating a surface submerged in standing liquid until that liquid boils — is used to transfer heat for many applications, from power generation to refrigeration to air conditioning.

Increasing the rate and efficiency of that heat transfer can improve the performance and reliability of systems that rely on pool boiling. One popular method? Engineering the surfaces of thermally conductive materials to increase their surface area, even down to the microscale or nanoscale.

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