Heat pipes with self assembled compositions

Abstract

Technology of the invention enables use of new engineering materials in design of heat pipes with novel properties and improved performance. In particular milled carbon fibers, carbon nanotubes can be used for construction of high performance wicks.

1 . A heat pipe having a capillary structure commonly known as a wick, and a liquid, wherein there is a chemical substance or substances present on interface of the liquid and the material of the wick, and said chemical substance or substances improve capillary properties of said material with respect to said liquid.  
     
     
         2 . A device of  claim 1 , wherein said material is carbon in any of its forms e.g. graphite, diamond, fullerene, fiber, amorphous.  
     
     
         3 . A device of  claim 1 , wherein said material is natural or synthetic polymer.  
     
     
         4 . A device of  claim 1 , wherein said material is inorganic or ceramic composite.  
     
     
         5 . A device of  claim 1 , wherein said material is metal or alloy.  
     
     
         6 . A heat pipe wherein a wick structure composed primarily of carbon fiber or carbon tube based material and a heat transfer liquid of the pipe forms self-assembled layers or domains of self-assembled structures on surface of graphite crystals or forms self-assembled aggregates on edges and pits of crystal plates of graphite.  
     
     
         7 . A device of  claim 6 , wherein said liquid is one of commercially available refrigerants which may include R-13, R-114 and others.  
     
     
         8 . A device of  claim 6 , wherein said wick composed of a felt like material with primary content of milled graphite or carbon fibers or tubes.