Lightweight carbon foam structure for phase change material heat sinks

Abstract

A phase change material heat sink including: a carbon graphite matrix having one or more removed portions; and an expanded graphite located within the one or more removed portions.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . A phase change material heat sink comprising:
 a carbon graphite matrix having one or more removed portions; and   an expanded graphite located within the one or more removed portions.   
     
     
         2 . The phase change material heat sink of  claim 1 , further comprising:
 a sealed chamber, wherein the carbon graphite matrix is located within the sealed chamber.   
     
     
         3 . The phase change material heat sink of  claim 2 , further comprising:
 a phase change material located within the sealed chamber, wherein the phase change material embedded within the carbon graphite matrix and the expanded graphite.   
     
     
         4 . The phase change material heat sink of  claim 1 , wherein the one or more removed portions are holes. 
     
     
         5 . The phase change material heat sink of  claim 1 , wherein the one or more removed portions are channels. 
     
     
         6 . The phase change material heat sink of  claim 1 , wherein the expanded graphite fills a selected percentage of the one or more removed portions. 
     
     
         7 . The phase change material heat sink of  claim 6 , wherein the selected percentage is less than or equal to 10 percent. 
     
     
         8 . The phase change material heat sink of  claim 6 , wherein the selected percentage is equal to 10 percent. 
     
     
         9 . A method of manufacturing a phase change material heat sink, the method comprising:
 obtaining a carbon graphite matrix having one or more removed portions; and   inserting an expanded graphite into the one or more removed portions.   
     
     
         10 . The method of  claim 9 , further comprising:
 forming the carbon graphite matrix having the one or more removed portions.   
     
     
         11 . The method of  claim 9 , further comprising:
 machining one or more holes in the carbon graphite matrix to form the one or more removed portions.   
     
     
         12 . The method of  claim 9 , further comprising:
 machining one or more channels in the carbon graphite matrix to form the one or more removed portions.   
     
     
         13 . The method of  claim 9 , further comprising:
 inserting the carbon graphite matrix and the expanded graphite into a sealed chamber.   
     
     
         14 . The method of  claim 13 , further comprising:
 inserting a phase change material into the carbon graphite matrix and the expanded graphite located within the sealed chamber.   
     
     
         15 . The method of  claim 9 , wherein the expanded graphite fills a selected percentage of the one or more removed portions. 
     
     
         16 . The method of  claim 15 , wherein the selected percentage is less than or equal to 10 percent. 
     
     
         17 . The method of  claim 15 , wherein the selected percentage is equal to 10 percent. 
     
     
         18 . The method of  claim 13 , further comprising:
 inserting a phase change material into the carbon graphite matrix simultaneously with the expanded graphite.   
     
     
         19 . The method of  claim 13 , further comprising:
 inserting a phase change material into the carbon graphite matrix simultaneously with the expanded graphite via a vacuum.   
     
     
         20 . The method of  claim 13 , further comprising:
 inserting a phase change material into the carbon graphite matrix and the expanded graphite via a vacuum.