Fabrication and Numerical Analysis of Friction Stir Back Extruded Lightweight Magnesium Alloy Heat Pipes

Abstract

Heat pipes are used for a variety of cooling applications and the major users are the aerospace and electronics industries. The ideal requirement for efficient heat pipes is that they be as light as possible while still maintaining a very good thermal conductivity. In this research work, Magnesium alloy ZE41 was tested as a competent material for the manufacturing of heat pipes. The Magnesium alloy heat pipes with improved grain structure, homogeneous distribution of rare earth elements, better strength were manufactured by Friction Stir Back Extrusion (FSBE). The heat pipes were tested for compatibility with varying mixtures of working fluids namely Acetone and Ethanol by performing Immersion corrosion test. The thermal efficiency of the heat pipes was also determined from simulations by employing suitable properties of the working fluids and the component.

Production of LM28 Tubes by Mechanical Alloying and Using Friction Stir Extrusion

“…Their results showed that the yield strength of the base material is 211 MPa, while that of the sample produced by the FSE is 152 MPa, which means a 28% reduction in the yield strength. Ramesh et al [16] produced heat tubes made of Ze41 magnesium alloy using FSE. Ze41 magnesium alloy was tested as a suitable material for making heat tubes because, in addition to being lightweight, magnesium tubes also have high thermal conductivity.…”