Abstract: A solid state, directional, thermal cable including a bundle of elongated, flexible, carbon fibers having a high thermal conductivity in at least the longitudinal direction. Couplings at each end of the cable, bind together the fiber bundle and thermally engage the cable with objects having different temperatures, for transferring heat between the objects. The thermal cable may be used with a frame which supports a device to or from which heat is to be transferred. The thermal cable engages with the frame at a first region proximate the device, and with a second region remote from the device for transferring heat between the first and second regions. The heat transfer frame may include a composite material whose constituents have at least two different coefficients of thermal expansion, for establishing the overall coefficient of thermal expansion of the composite material. One of the constituents may have a negative coefficient of thermal expansion, and may be a carbon based material.