Abstract: A solar panel includes an inlet manifold, an outlet manifold spaced apart from the inlet manifold, and a plurality of pipes having a first end in open fluid communication with the inlet manifold and a second end in open fluid communication with the outlet manifold. A box-shaped cover formed of a polycarbonate material is disposed in ensleeving relation to the plurality of pipes. The box-shaped cover has a length at least slightly less than the distance between the inlet and outlet manifolds so that opposite ends of pipes in the plurality of pipes are exposed to ambient. The cover substantially prevents ventilation of the plurality of pipes and thus allows water temperatures in the panel to rise higher than possible in the absence of such cover. The exposure of the opposite ends of the pipes to ambient prevents water temperatures in the panel from exceeding a predetermined temperature.

Abstract: An exchange apparatus comprised of hollow perfluorinated thermoplastic tubes fusion bonded into a perfluorinated thermoplastic material to form unified terminal end blocks is disclosed. The hollow tubes are shaped by plaiting the tubes into cords and thermally annealing the cords to set the bends of the plait. The apparatus can have a housing bonded to the unified terminal end blocks. In use a first fluid enters the hollow tubes at openings in a first unified terminal end block, flows through the lumens of the tubes, and exits the tubes through a second unified terminal end block. A second fluid enters the housing, is separated from the first fluid by the wall of the tubes, and substantially fills the space between the inner wall of the housing and the outer diameters of the hollow tubes. Energy is transferred between the first and second fluids through the tube walls.

Abstract: The present invention relates to an aluminum alloy brazing sheet (1) for a heat exchanger improved in a life including a fatigue in a plastic area and an aluminum alloy heat exchanger tube (11) using the brazing sheet, which is composed of: a core material (2) of an Al—Mn series alloy; a skin material (3) of any one of an Al—Zn series alloy, an Al—Zn—Mg series alloy, an Al—Si—Mn—Zn series alloy, and an Al—Si—Mn—Mg—Zn series alloy clad on one side of the core material; and a brazing material (4) of an Al—Si series alloy clad on the other side of the core material, and is adapted so that an X-ray diffraction intensity ratio of the aluminum alloy brazing sheet satisfies a relational expression of I200/(I111+I200+I220+I311)?0.4.

Abstract: A conducting device, such as a corrugated fin, for a heat exchanger, has at least one surface with an increased microscopic roughness. A method increases the microscopic roughness of at least one surface of a conducting device such as a corrugated fin. A heat exchanger, such as an evaporator for an air-conditioning system of a motor vehicle, has tubes through which a medium flows and between which conducting devices are arranged, the conducting devices having a further medium, such as moist air, flowing around them.

Abstract: A brazing method includes assembling a first member and a second member, the first member including a base plate made of a ferrous material and a diffusion suppressing layer laminated on the base plate and made of a Ni—Cr alloy including more than about 15% and less than about 40% of Cr, the second member being disposed on the first member with a brazing material of a Cu—Ni alloy including more than about 10% and less than about 20% of Ni therebetween, and maintaining the temporary assembly at a temperature of more than about 1,200° C. to fuse the brazing material and diffuse Ni atoms and Cr atoms into the fused brazing material to form the braze joint, causing the resulting brazing material to have an increased melting point due to the Ni and Cr contents of the braze joint to self-solidify the braze joint, and then cooling the resulting assembly.

Abstract: Disclosed is a heat exchanger, particularly an exhaust gas heat exchanger for an internal combustion engine of a motor vehicle, comprising a housing jacket that is open at both ends, and a tube bundle which is inserted into said housing jacket and is penetrated by the hot exhaust gas. The aim of the invention is to produce said heat exchanger in an inexpensive and functionally safe manner. Said aim is achieved by the fact that only the tube bundle with the tube bottoms thereof, which are located on the front side, are made of metal while the housing jacket into which the tube bundle is inserted along with the tube bottoms is made of plastic.

Abstract: A brazing fin material for heat exchangers includes a core material and a filler metal clad on each side of the core material, wherein the core material is an aluminum alloy including manganese, the filler metal is an aluminum alloy including 6 to 9.5 mass % of silicon, silicon particles in the filler metal have an average circle equivalent diameter of 3 ?m or less, and the brazing fin material has a thickness of 0.06 mm or less.

Abstract: A heat exchanger for a fluid handling system is disclosed. The heat exchanger may have an inlet configured to receive a fluid at a first temperature, and an outlet configured to discharge the fluid at a second temperature lower than the first. The heat exchanger may also have at least one fluid passageway disposed to conduct the fluid from the inlet to the outlet. The at least one fluid passageway may have a first section fabricated from a first material, and a second section fabricated from a dissimilar second material. At least one of the first and second materials may include a thermally conductive polymer.

Abstract: An air-to-air aftercooler may include at least one tube body configured to direct a flow of charged air, wherein the at least one tube body includes a first material. The air-to-air aftercooler may also include a header assembly coupled to ends of the at least one tube body. The header assembly may include a second different material.

Abstract: The present invention provides extruded tubes for heat exchangers having improved corrosion resistance when used alone and when part of a brazed heat exchanger assembly with compatible finstock. The tubes are formed from a first aluminum alloy containing 0.4 to 1.1% by weight manganese, up to 0.01% by weight copper, up to 0.05% by weight zinc, up to 0.2% by weight iron, up to 0.2% by weight silicon, up to 0.01% by weight nickel, up to 0.05% by weight titanium and the balance aluminum and incidental impurities. The fins are formed from a second aluminum alloy containing 0.9 to 1.5% by weight manganese or an alloy of the AA3003 type, this second aluminum alloy further containing at least 0.5% by weight zinc.

Abstract: An aluminum alloy brazing sheet which has a clad of a sacrificial anode material/a core alloy/an intermediate material/a filler alloy, wherein number density ratios N1/N2 and N1/N3 each are 1.5 or more, in which a number density ((the number of grains)/?m3) of an intermetallic compound having a sphere-equivalent grain diameter of 0.1 ?m or less present in the core alloy, the intermediate material, and the sacrificial anode material, is represented by N1, N2, and N3, respectively.

Abstract: A multi-layer aluminum brazing sheet including a core layer, interliner, braze clad layer and a sacrificial layer, in which the post-braze strength of the brazing sheet is optimized by controlling the manganese (Mn), silicon (Si), copper (Cu) and magnesium (Mg) contents of the core layer and the Mn, Si and Cu content of the interliner and the Mn, Si and Zn content of the sacrificial layer and the specifics of the braze thermal cycle. The brazing sheet maintains corrosion resistance, while optimizing post-braze strength, by utilizing 0.5 wt. % to 1.2 wt. % Cu in the interliner. Further, the interliner and sacrificial layer of the brazing sheet contain low or no magnesium to maintain the brazing sheet's braze-ability.

Abstract: A heat exchanger tube having enhanced corrosion resistance and improved resistance to high burst pressures. The heat exchanger tube comprises an aluminum alloy that consists essentially of about 0.01-1.5% silicon, up to about 1.2% copper, up to about 2.0% manganese, about 0.01-1.0% iron, about 0.01-5.0% zinc, up to about 0.02% titanium and the balance substantially aluminum and incidental elements and impurities.

Abstract: An aluminum alloy, a clad or unclad material for a brazed product containing the alloy as a core, and a method for producing the material, wherein the material is used for manufacturing the brazed product from the alloy.

Abstract: A heat exchanger panel for a surface of a room, the panel having plate-type heat exchanger elements and having a heat exchanger pipe. The heat exchanger elements include two main surfaces facing away from each other and a peripheral surface linking the main surfaces, a fiber mat and a thin plaster layer. The plaster layer adheres to the fiber mat and the heat exchanger pipe extends at least partially within the plaster layer. The pipe has at least two connections in the area of the peripheral surface.

Abstract: A heat exchanger according to certain embodiments includes an outer portion formed of at least one inflatable cell and an inner portion. The inflatable cell has inner and outer surfaces that are separated from each other and at least partially support the outer portion when inflated. The outer portion defines a first interior passage configured to convey fluid. The inner portion is positioned within the outer portion, the inner portion defining a second interior passage configured to convey fluid.

Abstract: A pattern is formed with an insulative resin on a bonding face of a silicon chip, which is a heat generating element, and a pattern is formed with the insulative resin on a bonding face of a heat sink, which is a heat dissipating element, in alignment with the insulative resin parts formed on the silicon chip. The silicon chip and the heat sink are bonded to each other via a heat transfer sheet. The silicon chip and the heat sink are bonded to each other by a metal to form metal connection portions in a region where no insulative resin parts are formed, while the silicon ship and the heat sink are bonded to each other by a resin to form resin connection portions in a region where the insulative resin parts are formed.

Abstract: A method of producing an aluminium alloy brazing sheet for the manufacturing of light brazed assemblies, wherein said brazing sheet has good formability, combined with a low susceptibility to core penetration in the end annealed as-produced condition after stretching, forming and/or shaping and brazing are disclosed. Assemblies made according to the method are also disclosed.

Abstract: An aluminum alloy-based extruded multi-path flat tube having a multiple number of passageways extending internally through the flat tube in parallel with one another and adapted to be coupled to other such flat tubes to form a heat exchanger after performing a brazing operation with the flat tube having a surface layer extending inwardly from the external surface containing at least 5% non-recrystallized grains and having an inner layer extending from the surface area containing at least 30% recrystallized grains.

Abstract: The increase of temperature of heat sensitive devices during heat generating conditions is prevented through the absorption of heat, by providing a hydroxide, such as Lithium Hydroxide, Sodium Hydroxide, Potassium Hydroxide, Magnesium Hydroxide, Calcium Hydroxide, Beryllium Hydroxide, Aluminum Hydroxide, Ammonium Hydroxide and mixtures thereof, in an amount sufficient to effect the required heat absorption. Where the heat generating conditions are generated by a heat generator, separate and distinct from the heat sensitive device, the hydroxide may be supported in a position between the heat sensitive device and the heat generator. Where the heat sensitive device is itself the heat generator, the hydroxide is in contact with the heat sensitive device, either directly or indirectly.

Abstract: A tubular or spherical nanostructure composed of a plurality of peptides, wherein each of the plurality of peptides includes no more than 4 amino acids and whereas at least one of the 4 amino acids is an aromatic amino acid.

Abstract: A heat spreader having at least two adjoining layers each having at least two pyrolytic graphite strips cut from a sheet of pyrolytic graphite along the z direction. Thermal conductivity in the xy plane of the graphite sheet is greater than in the z direction. The z direction cut provides strips which are each oriented 90 degrees such that the thickness direction of the original sheet becomes the width or length of the cut strip. A side of a first strip adjoins a side of a second strip in each layer. Because of the greater thermal conductivity in the xy plane of the strips as compared to the z direction heat transfers more rapidly in the length and thickness direction of the strips than across adjoining sides of the oriented strips in each layer. The first layer strips are oriented about 90 degrees from the orientation of the second layer strips.

Abstract: The heat exchanger is made economically by using thermoplastic sheets with hollow tubes and spacers between the sheets and fusing the edges of the sheets together to form an integral housing. Preferably, the heat exchanger is an opposed-flow heat-exchanger giving improved heat-transfer efficiency.

Abstract: A heat exchanger which has i) a fin material comprising a triple-layer clad material constituted of a core material composed of an aluminum alloy containing from 0.5 to 1.8% by weight of Mn and from 0.5 to 3.0% by weight of Zn and, provided on both sides of the core material, a brazing filler material composed of an Al—Si alloy containing from 6.5 to 13.0% by weight of Si and from 0.15 to 0.60% by weight of Cu and ii) an aluminum alloy tube having a Zn concentrated surface; the both having been brazed with each other; wherein, after brazing, recrystallized grains of the core material have an average length of from 100 to 1,000 ?m in the lengthwise section of a fin and the recrystallized grains of the core material are 4 or less in average number in the thickness direction of that lengthwise section. This heat exchanger is improved in the durability of fin joints and fins themselves and their strength after corrosion.

Abstract: Ceramic materials are converted to materials with anisotropic thermal properties, electrical properties, or both, by forming the ceramics into composites with carbon nanotubes dispersed therein and uniaxially compressing the composites in a direction in which a lower thermal or electrical conductivity is desired.

Abstract: A heat exchanger apparatus enables the temperature of a liquid located external to the apparatus in a recirculation loop to be controlled by heat transfer within the apparatus. A manifold fitting is also provided for distributing fluid from multiple conduits to a single conduit.

Abstract: A carbon nanotube heat-exchange system (10) and method for producing the same. One embodiment of the carbon nanotube heat-exchange system (10) comprises a microchannel structure (24) having an inlet end (30) and an outlet end (32), the inlet end (30) providing a cooling fluid into the microchannel structure (24) and the outlet end (32) discharging the cooling fluid from the microchannel structure (24). At least one flow path (28) is defined in the microchannel structure (24), fluidically connecting the inlet end (30) to the outlet end (32) of the microchannel structure (24). A carbon nanotube structure (26) is provided in thermal contact with the microchannel structure (24), the carbon nanotube structure (26) receiving heat from the cooling fluid in the microchannel structure (24) and dissipating the heat into an external medium (19).

Abstract: A radiator structure used with a hot fluid and cooling fluid having a carbon fiber tube. The carbon fiber tube includes a wall portion having an inner surface and an outer surface. A passageway through the tube is used to conduct hot fluids. A second tube of similar construction is spaced form the first tube. A multiplicity of carbon fiber fins span and connect to the first and second tubes and are held thereto by a conductive adhesive.

Abstract: Disclosed is a process for producing an Al—Mn alloy sheet with improved liquid film migration resistance when used as core alloy in brazing sheet, including the steps of: casting an ingot having a composition comprising (in weight percent): 0.5<Mn?1.7, 0.06<Cu?1.5, Si?1.3, Mg?0.25, Ti<0.2, Zn?2.0, Fe?0.5, at least one element of the group of elements of 0.05<Zr?0.25 and 0.05<Cr?0.25; other elements <0.05 each and total <0.20, balance Al; homogenisation and preheat; hot rolling; cold rolling (including intermediate anneals whenever required), and wherein the homogenisation temperature is at least 450° C. for a duration of at least 1 hour followed by an air cooling at a rate of at least 20° C./h and wherein the pre-heat temperature is at least 400° C. for at least 0.5 hour.

Abstract: A metallurgical product consists essentially of a core aluminum alloy, purposefully tailored through chemistry and processing route to resist recrystallization during the brazing cycle to intentionally exploit the higher strengths immediately after brazing of a deformed and recovered microstructure, the core aluminum alloy being bonded on one side to an aluminum alloy interliner designed to be resistant to localized erosion, which, in turn, is bonded to a 4xxx calling alloy.

Abstract: A thermal chromic heat storing/releasing device includes a bag having an enclosed space for containing a heat storing/releasing material, and the heat storing/releasing material is a material that can store and release heat and the heat storing/releasing material is contained in the bag. A thermal chromic printed layer having at least a part disposed on the bag, and the printed material is mixed with a thermal chromic dye, such that the thermo chromic material will change the color of the printed layer for a visual indication as the temperature rises or drops.

Abstract: A grease cover (50) for protecting grease spread on a bottom surface of a heat sink (20) includes a base wall (51), a plurality of sidewalls (52a, 52b, 52c, 52d), a protecting space (53) between the base wall and the sidewalls, a holding space in an upper portion of the protecting space, and two projections (54). The protecting space is for accommodating the grease. The holding space is for receiving the heat sink therein. The projections extend from two opposite sidewalls of the grease cover. A top surface of each of the projections spaces a distance from the base wall, for supporting the bottom surface of the heat sink to enable the grease away from the base wall, when the heat sink is received in the holding space.

Abstract: A light weight hybrid heat exchanger core possessing low density and improved thermal conductivity is disclosed. The hybrid core is comprised of a plurality of parting sheets and interposed by a plurality of high thermal conductivity, light weight bridging elements and enclosure bars. These core members are comprised of dissimilar materials. The parting sheets and bridging elements are interconnected by a specially tailored joint which forms form a substantially strong, high thermal conductivity bond. In particular embodiments, carbon-based bridging elements are bonded to metallic parting sheets using a brazed joint. The parting sheets, in certain embodiments, may comprise titanium or Ni-based superalloys or carbon composites, while the carbon-based bridging elements may comprise fiber-reinforced composites.

Abstract: A plastic intercooler assembly includes a plurality of plastic tubes that extend between plastic end plates. The plastic tubes are secured to the end plates to provide the desired seal between the end plates and the ends of the tubes. The plastic tubes are attached utilizing plastic welding methods that reduce assembly time and cost.

Abstract: An exchange apparatus comprised of hollow thermoplastic tubes infusion bonded into a thermoplastic material is disclosed. In a preferred embodiment the hollow tubes are shaped by plaiting the tubes into cords and then thermally annealing the cords to set the crests and bends of the plait. The cords provide improved flow distribution of fluid about the hollow tube tubes in the exchange apparatus. The exchange apparatus is chemically inert and is useful for cross flow filtration, as well as heat and mass transfer in harsh chemical environments.

Abstract: A heat exchange structure includes at least three wave-shaped non-woven cloth layers. Each wave-shaped non-woven cloth layer has a plurality of crest tops and trough bottoms. Adjacent wave-shaped non-woven cloth layers are interconnected at intersections of crest tops and trough bottoms thereof. Each wave-shaped non-woven cloth layer forms a unique flow channel. When a cool airflow and a hot airflow are respectively introduced into flow channels formed by adjacent wave-shaped non-woven cloth layers, a heat exchange is executed at the wave-shaped non-woven cloth layer between the cool airflow and the hot airflow.

Abstract: A heat transfer element includes a container having a heat input section for receiving heat generated by a heating element and a heat output section for radiating the heat outside, and condensable working fluid that is vacuum-sealed in the container to transfer the heat received from the heat input section to the heat output section and that is moved between the heat input section and the heat output section by a capillary action member. The container is composed of a resin containing a thermoconductive material. A cooling device includes the heat transfer element, a heat sink disposed adjacent to the heat output section to radiate the heat received from the heat output section, and a fan for supplying cooling air to the heat sink.

Abstract: The present invention relates to multiple layer aluminum brazing sheet having a core, a braze cladding, and an interliner therebetween that, when fabricated in the fully annealed condition (O-temper), forms a continuous and dense dispersoid band in the core in addition to having an additional sacrificial layer for exceptional post brazed corrosion resistance. This present invention also relates to the process used to fabricate these alloys.

Abstract: The present invention provides a heat exchanger which is assembled by brazing an aluminum fin material to the outer surface of an aluminum tube material formed by bending a sheet material, in particular, an aluminum heat exchanger which can be suitably used as an automotive heat exchanger such as a condenser or evaporator. The tube material is formed of a two-layer clad sheet which includes a core material and an Al—Zn alloy layer clad on the core material. The Al—Zn alloy layer is clad on the outer surface of the tube material and brazed to the aluminum fin material. The potential of the Al—Zn alloy layer in a normal corrosive solution is at least 100 mV lower than the potential of the core material in the normal corrosive solution. The potential of the Al—Zn alloy layer in the normal corrosive solution is lower than the potential of the core material in high-concentration corrosive water. The normal corrosive solution refers to an aqueous solution containing 10 g/l of NaCl and 0.

Abstract: An aluminum alloy heat exchanger having a tube composed of a thin aluminum alloy clad material, wherein, in the clad material, one face of an aluminum alloy core material containing Si 0.05–1.0 mass % is clad with an Al—Si-series filler material containing Si 5–20 mass %, and the other face is clad with a sacrificial material containing Zn 2–10 mass % and/or Mg 1–5 mass %, and wherein an element diffusion profile of the clad material by EPMA satisfies (1) and/or (2): L-LSi-LZn?40(?m) ??(1) L-LSi-LMg?5(?m) ??(2) wherein L is a tube wall thickness (?m); LSi is a position (?m) indicating an amount of Si diffused from the filler material; and LZn and LMg each represent a region (?m) indicating an amount of Zn or Mg diffused from the sacrificial material, respectively; and a method of producing the heat exchanger.

Abstract: The invention generally relates to a flexible heal exchanger comprising a pair of flexible multilayer thermoplastic polyimide films each of which comprises an aromatic polyimide substrate film showing no glass transition temperature or a glass transition temperature of 340° C. or higher and a thermoplastic aromatic polyimide surface film showing a glass transition temperature in the range of 190 to 300° C. in which the surface films of the flexible multilayer thermoplastic polyimide films face each other and are in part fused together, whereby producing between the flexible multilayer thermoplastic polyimide films a conduit pattern through which a fluid passes. The flexible multilayer thermoplastic polyimide films preferably have a thickness in the range of 10 to 125 ?m and comprise a linear expansion coefficient of MD, a linear expansion coefficient of TD and an average of linear expansion coefficients of MD and TD, in the range of 10×10?6 to 35×10?6 cm/cm/° C. at 50-200° C.

Abstract: The present invention a high strength aluminium alloy brazing sheet, comprising an Al—Zn core layer and at least one clad layer, the core layer including the following composition (in weight percent): Zn 1.2 to 5.5 Mg 0.8 to 3.0 Mn 0.1 to 1.0 Cu <0.2 Si ?<0.35 Fe <0.5 optionally one or more of: Zr <0.3 Cr <0.3 V <0.3 Ti <0.2 Hf <0.3 Sc <0.5, the balance aluminium and incidental elements and impurities. The clad layer includes an Al—Si based filler alloy and is applied on at least one side of the core layer. The invention relates furthermore to a brazed assembly including such brazing sheet, to the use of such brazing sheet and to method for producing an aluminium alloy brazing sheet.

Abstract: A method of manufacturing a finned heat sink included obtaining a fin core, wherein the fin core is constructed of a conductive structural graphite-epoxy material. A fin cover is secured to the fin core using one of heat and pressure to define a heat sink fin, wherein the fin cover is constructed of a foil material.

Abstract: Disclosed is a heat transfer medium having high heat transfer rate, being useful in even wider fields, simple in structure, easy to made, environmentally sound, and capable of rapidly conducting heat and preserving heat in a highly efficient manner. Further disclosed are a heat transfer surface and a heat transfer element utilizing the heat transfer medium. Further disclosed are applications of the heat transfer element.

Abstract: A heat exchanger of a ventilating system includes: heat exchange plates having first air passage through which indoor air being discharged to outside of a building passes and a second air passage through which outdoor air being introduced to the interior of the building passes which are sequentially formed: first corrugation plates attached to the first air passage; and second corrugation plates attached to the second air passage, wherein the heat exchange plates are made of a paper material with numerous fine holes that are able to generate a capillary phenomenon and loess which radiates far infrared ray. Heat exchange and moisture exchange between the indoor air and the outdoor air are performed simultaneously, and a cleaning function of removing a harmful material contained in outdoor air can be carried out.

Abstract: A plate type heat exchanger wherein contacting portions of laminated plural plates and fins or contacting portions of laminated plural plates are brazed to form a heat exchange area, characterized in that at least the surface of a plate or fin contacting with a fluid is covered with an alloy comprising in weight ratio 25–35% of chromium, 5–7% of phosphorus, 3–5% of silicon, 0.001–0.1% of at least one selected from the group consisting of aluminum, calcium, yttrium and mischmetal, and balance containing mainly nickel. The alloy may contain 15% or less of iron and or 10% or less of molybdenum. The plate type exchanger exhibits enhanced pressure resistance and is excellent in corrosion resistance.

Abstract: In a heat exchanger having tubes and fins, a polyaniline film made of polyaniline and/or a derivative thereof is formed on the surfaces of the tubes and the fins. This polyaniline film is imparted with at least one hydrophilic functional group selected from the class consisting of a primary amino group, a secondary amino group, a tertiary amino group, an ammonium group, a nitric acid group, a carboxyl group, a sulfonic acid group, a phosphonic acid group and a hydroxyl group. Accordingly, the surfaces of the tubes and the fins has good water wettability while maintaining deodorizing and sterilizing functions.

Abstract: A method for adjusting temperature of a machining liquid, e.g., slurry, etching liquid, by passing the machining liquid through a heat exchanger. The heat exchanger, which adjusts the temperature of the machining liquid, includes a ceramic heat exchanging tube which is made by baking silicon carbide (SiC).

Abstract: Existing plate-type heat exchangers typically include plates that are constructed of metal or paper, which are only capable of transferring a limited amount of moisture, if any, from one side of the plate to the other side. The present invention is a plate-type heat exchanger wherein the plates are constructed of ionomer membranes, such as sulfonated or carboxylated polymer membranes, which are capable of transferring a significant amount of moisture from one side of the membrane to the other side. Incorporating such ionomer membranes into a plate-type heat exchanger provides the heat exchanger with the ability to transfer a large percentage of the available latent heat in one air stream to the other air streams. The ionomer membrane plates are, therefore, more efficient at transferring latent heat than plates constructed of metal or paper.

Abstract: An optimized design for a composite heat sink is provided utilizing a high thermal conducting base and low thermal conducting fins. The base preferably is constructed from anisotropic graphite material, and the fins are preferably constructed from a thermally conductive plastic material. In the case of a low profile heat sink having a fin height of no greater than about 3 times that of the base, the composite construction provides superior cooling yet lighter weight as compared to a conventional all-aluminum heat sink of the same dimensions.