Laser powder bed fusion additive manufacturing of copper wicking structures: fabrication and capillary characterization

Purpose An integral component in heat pipes (HPs) and vapor chambers (VCs) is a porous wicking structure. Traditional methods for manufacturing structures within HPs VCs involve secondary processes are generally limited to simple geometries. This work aims leverage the unprecedented level of design freedom laser powder bed fusion (LPBF) additive (AM) produce integrated VCs. Design/methodology/approach Copper fabricated through LPBF via partial sintering formation square, hexagonal rectangular arrangements micro-pins micro-grooves, produced multiple build directions. Wicks characterized by conducting capillary performance analysis measurement porosity, permeability rate-of-rise. Findings were successfully with performance, K/reff, ranging from 0.186–1.74 µm. The rectangular-arrangement micro-pin wick presented highest performance. Originality/value represents first published report on AM copper HPs/VCs applications foundational knowledge fabricating complete assemblies AM.